Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Natural Resources
NR 500-599 - Environmental Protection - Solid Waste Management
Chapter NR 526 - Medical Waste Management
Subchapter II - Infectious Waste Management
Section NR 526.11 - Treatment methods

Universal Citation: WI Admin Code ยง NR 526.11

Current through August 26, 2024

Except as provided in s. NR 526.04, no person may dispose of infectious waste in a solid waste disposal facility unless the infectious waste has undergone treatment in accordance with this section. The treatment method shall effectively render the waste non-infectious. The treatment method shall be chosen by considering the properties of the waste being treated and the degree of microbial contamination.

Note: The treatment method may also need to comply with air standards for control of hazardous pollutants in ch. NR 445 and with state or federal regulations for wastewater and occupational health and safety.

(1) METHODS. Except as provided in s. NR 526.04, all infectious waste shall be treated by one or more of the following infectious waste treatment methods:

(a) Incineration. Treatment by incineration shall consist of incineration in a controlled air, multi-chambered incinerator which provides complete combustion of the waste to carbonized or mineralized ash. The incinerator shall be one that is regulated by the department under s. NR 502.09 or 502.13.

(b) Steam disinfection. Treatment by steam disinfection, including but not limited to autoclaving, shall subject all the waste to a combination of operational temperature, pressure (if applicable) and time proven to render the waste non-infectious at the design capacity of the installed equipment.

(c) Chemical disinfection. Treatment by chemical disinfection shall expose the infectious waste to an appropriate type and concentration of disinfectant for a period of time sufficient to render the waste non-infectious. The chemical disinfectant shall be chosen based on the manufacturer's recommended use of the disinfectant, the cleanliness of the surface of the waste, the contact time, the physical and chemical properties of the waste, the concentration of the disinfectant and the degree of microbial contamination.

(d) Mechanical grinding and chemical disinfection. Treatment by mechanical grinding and chemical disinfection shall expose all of the waste to the chemical disinfectant for a period of time sufficient to render the waste non-infectious. The chemical disinfectant shall be chosen based on the use of the disinfectant in medical situations, the cleanliness of the surface of the waste, the contact time, the physical and chemical properties of the waste, the concentration of the disinfectant and the degree of microbial contamination. Treatment by mechanical grinding and chemical disinfection shall prevent the release of infectious liquid or infectious gaseous discharges into the environment.

(e) Mechanical grinding and heat disinfection. Treatment by mechanical grinding and heat disinfection, including but not limited to low frequency wave radiation and microwave radiation, shall expose all of the waste to heat for a period of time sufficient to render the waste non-infectious. Treatment by mechanical grinding and heat disinfection shall prevent the release of infectious liquid or infectious gaseous discharges into the environment.

(f) Gas disinfection. Treatment by gas disinfection shall allow gas to penetrate all the infectious waste and shall render the waste non-infectious. The unit shall be operated in a manner that does not pose an occupational risk of exposure to the gas.

Note: For ethylene oxide sterilizers, refer to OSHA regulations in 29 CFR 1910.1047. Air toxic rules in ch. NR 445 may also apply.

(g) Other methods. Treatment by other treatment methods and processes shall render the waste non-infectious and shall be appropriate with respect to all of the following: the properties of the waste being disinfected, the manufacturer's recommended use of the disinfectant, the cleanliness of the surface of the waste, the contact time, the physical properties of the waste, the concentration of the disinfectant and the degree of microbial contamination.

(2) SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS. No person may treat the following categories of infectious waste except as follows:

(a) Human tissue. Human tissue, except teeth containing mercury amalgam treated according to par. (f), shall be treated by any of the following methods:
1. Methods which render the tissue both non-infectious and unrecognizable as human tissue.

2. Incineration where the tissue is transformed into an ash which would not be recognized as being from a human being.

(b) Animal tissue. Animal tissue known to be carrying or experimentally infected with a zoonotic infectious agent shall be treated by any of the following methods:
1. Methods which render the tissue non-infectious.

2. Incineration.

3. Burial on the land on which the animal was kept, in accordance with s. 289.43(9), Stats., for animals infected with scrapie or s. 289.43(8), Stats., or s. NR 503.08 for other animals.

4. Rendering or other methods which incorporate the animal into a consumer product in accordance with all other applicable state and federal regulations.

Note: For animals and animal waste used in HIV and HbV research, refer to OSHA blood-borne pathogen standard 29 CFR 1910.1030(e).

(c) Sharps. Sharps shall be treated by any of the following methods:
1. A method which both renders the sharp non-infectious and renders the sharp broken and not able to be reused, such as by a grinding or shredding process.

2. Incineration.

(d) Bulk blood. Bulk blood shall be treated by any of the following methods:
1. Biological treatment in a municipal or industrial wastewater treatment facility which has been approved under s. 281.41, Stats., or permitted under ch. 283, Stats. Bulk blood may be transported to the wastewater treatment facility through the sewer system.

2. Methods which render the blood non-infectious.

3. Incineration.

(e) Body fluids and blood-contaminated urine and feces. Body fluids and blood-contaminated urine and feces shall be treated by any of the methods listed in par. (d) or by disposal in a septic system.

(f) Teeth containing mercury amalgam. Infectious waste generators shall disinfect a tooth containing mercury amalgam using procedures allowed under sub. (1)(c), except bleach, which leaches mercury, and shall manage the disinfected tooth in one of the following ways:
1. Recycle the disinfected tooth containing mercury amalgam with other mercury-containing wastes.

2. Dispose of the disinfected tooth containing mercury amalgam as a hazardous waste.

3. Remove the mercury amalgam from the disinfected tooth and either recycle the mercury amalgam or dispose of the mercury amalgam as a hazardous waste. The disinfected tooth may be discarded as solid waste.

See the American Dental Association's website at www.ada.orgfor recommended procedures for disinfecting teeth containing mercury amalgam.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Wisconsin may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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