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 526.14 - Records and infectious waste manifests

(a) Records. Except as provided in sub. (2), all infectious waste generators shall keep records of the amount of infectious waste sent off-site for treatment. Records shall include all the information listed under sub. (3) and retained as provided in sub. (4). Records may consist of any of the following: originals or copies of infectious waste manifests, USDOT shipping papers, invoices or records received from the infectious waste treatment facility, logs or other written documentation of the amount of infectious waste sent off-site for treatment. If USDOT shipping papers are used as records, infectious waste generators shall keep separate records of information required under sub. (3) which is not written on their USDOT shipping papers.

(b) Manifests. When USDOT regulations apply, the generator shall use a USDOT shipping paper instead of an infectious waste manifest prepared in accordance with this paragraph. Unless USDOT regulations apply or as provided in sub. (2), no person may store, transfer, transport or treat infectious waste beyond the property where the waste was generated unless the waste is accompanied by an infectious waste manifest. The infectious waste manifest may either be a Wisconsin infectious waste manifest form supplied by the department or an alternative manifest form which includes all the information required in sub. (3). After an infectious waste manifest has been initiated, all persons who store, transfer, transport or treat the waste shall sign the infectious waste manifest form, even if the infectious waste generator is exempt from manifesting under sub. (2), and shall deliver the infectious waste manifest form to the next person who handles the waste. The infectious waste transporter shall leave a copy of the manifest with the infectious waste generator at the time that the waste is removed from the generator's facility.

Note: Wisconsin infectious waste manifest forms (DNR form 4400-176) may be obtained from the department of natural resources by writing to Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Waste Management, P. O. Box 7921, Madison, Wisconsin, 53707-7921 or by calling 608-266-2111. For more information about USDOT regulations contact USDOT helpline at 1-800-467-4922.

(a) The following persons are exempt from all the requirements of this section:

(b) The following persons are exempt from the requirements to use infectious waste manifests under this section, but shall follow the requirement for keeping records under sub. (1)(a):

(a) The place of origin of the infectious waste, including the name, address, telephone number, and name of contact person and type of facility where the infectious waste was generated, including but not limited to: hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, sharps collection stations and other facilities.

(b) The route for the infectious waste, including the name, address, telephone number, license number and name of contact person for any and all persons storing, transporting or treating the infectious waste beyond the location where the infectious waste was generated.

(c) The destination for disposal of the treated infectious waste, including the name, address, telephone number, solid waste disposal facility license number and name of a contact person.

(d) The composition of the infectious waste, including the type or types of infectious waste listed in s. NR 526.05(1).

(e) The quantity of the infectious waste, including both the number of containers and the total weight, whether known or estimated, of infectious waste including waste which is mixed with the infectious waste.

(f) The signature of an authorized representative of each facility or licensed transporter handling the waste from generation through treatment.

(a) The infectious waste generator shall retain the copy of the infectious waste manifest received when the waste was removed from the generator's facility and the records that certify their infectious waste was treated, as required in s. NR 526.12(4) (d) 3. The infectious waste generator shall retain these records for at least 3 years after the waste has been treated and provide the department copies of manifests and the records documenting the information required in sub. (3) upon request. If the 3-year period expires during an unresolved enforcement action, the period is automatically extended until resolution of the pending enforcement action.

Note: Hospitals, clinics and nursing homes should keep records for at least 5 years to comply with s. NR 526.19(9) (a) and (g).

(b) Each licensed infectious waste transporter and each owner or operator of a storage or transfer facility, combustor, incinerator or infectious waste treatment facility which handles or disinfects infectious waste shall retain a copy of each manifest, certification of infectious waste treatment according to s. NR 526.11 and records documenting the information required in sub. (3) for at least 3 years after delivering the waste to the next destination and shall provide the department copies of these documents upon request. If the 3-year period expires during an unresolved enforcement action, the period is automatically extended until resolution of the pending enforcement action.

(c) The owner or operator of a solid waste disposal facility which receives treated infectious waste shall retain a copy of the infectious waste manifest and certification of infectious waste treatment under s. NR 526.12(4) (d) 2. for at least 3 years after disposal of the waste and shall provide the department copies of these documents upon request. If the 3-year period expires during an unresolved enforcement action, the period is automatically extended until resolution of the pending enforcement action.