Wisconsin Administrative Code › Department of Natural Resources › NR 500-599 - Environmental Protection - Solid Waste Management › Chapter NR 526 - Medical Waste Management › Subchapter III - Medical Waste Reduction › Section NR 526.19 - Medical waste reduction plan

Current through June 24, 2024
(1) GENERAL
				  PROVISIONS. Unless exempt under s. NR 526.16 (2), each director or director's
				  designee shall prepare a medical waste reduction plan for separating, reducing
				  and managing the medical waste generated, for evaluating alternatives to
				  disposable products and for maintaining waste reduction efforts. The director
				  or director's designee shall do all of the following when preparing the medical
				  waste reduction plan:
(a) Include all of the
				  information required in subs. (3) to (10) in the medical waste reduction
				  plan.
(b) Assess the medical waste
				  reduction plan and its results annually and update the plan at least every 5
				  years.
(c) Keep a copy of the most
				  recent medical waste reduction plan and make it available for the department to
				  review upon request according to s. NR 526.22 (2). The department may require
				  the director to submit a copy of the plan and related materials to the
				  department for its review and approval. The department may approve the plan
				  with conditions, including but not limited to specifying goals, objectives and
				  schedules.
(d) Consider the
				  following priorities in developing the medical waste reduction plan:
1. Waste reduction, including but not limited
				  to: reducing the amount of packaging and the use of disposable items,
				  substituting other products and materials, changing or modifying equipment,
				  changing purchasing policies or procedures, changing housekeeping practices,
				  providing more effective ways to separate infectious wastes from all other
				  waste types, and selling or donating unused items and equipment to
				  others.
2. Reuse by appropriate
				  reprocessing, including but not limited to: sterilizing, disinfecting,
				  decontaminating, laundering, recharging, exchanging waste or equipment with
				  others, and selling or donating reprocessed items or equipment to
				  others.
3. Recycling of recyclable
				  materials.
(e) Consider
				  all of the following factors when evaluating waste management strategies and
				  alternatives to disposables:
1. Costs,
				  including benefits, savings and reduced liabilities.
2. Probable adverse effects on patient care
				  and worker safety posed by the alternatives.
3. Probable effects of transferring waste
				  disposal to other media, including land, air and water.
4. State recycling laws and rules and local
				  recycling ordinances.
5. Recycling
				  options available in the area.
6.
				  Compliance with other rules and regulations that apply to or within the medical
				  facility, such as occupational health and safety regulations, state and federal
				  air management regulations, state and federal wastewater regulations and state
				  and federal hazardous waste regulations.
7. Availability of products or equipment
				  needed to implement an alternative.
8. Other considerations specific to the
				  medical facility.