Frequently Asked Questions

In Arizona Regulated Medical Waste is referred to as Biohazardous Medical Waste is and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality considers any of the following to be RMW:

•    Cultures and stock

•    Human blood and blood products 

•    Human pathologic wastes 

•    Research animal wastes 

•    Medical sharps 

When the Medical Waste Tracking Act (MWTA) of 1988 expired in 1991 the EPA had no authority or jurisdiction over RMW, Arizona began to enforce Regulated Medical Waste practices through The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). As Phoenix grew Maricopa County developed their own RMW division that is overseen by the Maricopa County Solid Waste Services. It is important that any business or person(s) generating Regulated Medical Waste hire a Medical Waste Transporter or obtain a license themselves.  

Examples of businesses in Arizona that generate biohazardous medical waste include (but are not limited to) the following: 

• Hospitals & Medical Centers 

• Nursing & Assisted Living Homes 

• Surgery Centers 

• Dentists 

• Veterinary clinics 

• Tattoo Shops 

• Laboratories & Research Facilities 

• Blood Donation Centers 

• Immunization Centers including Pharmacies 

Proper Disposal of Regulated Medical Waste: 

Biohazardous medical waste must be transported by an ADEQ approved biohazardous medical waste transporter to an ADEQ approved treatment/disposal facility. Loading, Unloading, or Transferring Biohazardous Medical Waste is never permitted unless in an emergency situation. In the event of an emergency only trained staff should be responsible for this process. 

Proper Tracking Records: 

Anytime Biohazardous Medical Waste is transported for disposal an approved Regulated Medical Waste Manifest must be generated. This tracking document must be signed by generator, transporter, and the disposal/treatment facility. Both the generator and transporter must keep these records for a minimum of one year. Each manifest shall include: 

• Name & Address of Generator, Transporter, Disposal Facility 

• Quantity of Biohazardous Medical Waste collected Weight, Container Count or Volume 

• Identification Tags attached to containers 

• Date of Regulated Medical Waste Collection