These guidelines and standards will substantially reduce MWI emissions. EPA s MWI standards and guidelines will affect the use of alternative technologies for treating medical waste. Instead, facilities are likely to switch to other methods of waste disposal such as off-site commercial disposal or onsite disinfection technologies. Alternatives include thermal treatment, such as microwave technologies, steam sterilization, such as autoclaving, electropyrolysis and chemical mechanical systems, among others. Many states have regulations requiring medical waste treatment technologies to be certified, licensed, or regulated.
Individual states have their own requirements.
Several Federal agencies have regulations which cover this waste stream. Refer to the list of several of the main ones on the front page of the list of regulating agencies . A number of workgroups have been convened to help achieve these goals.