Regulation of Medical Waste in the United States

When wash-ups of syringes and medical vials closed northeastern beaches, public outcry galvanized Congress to pass the Medical Waste Treatment Act (MWTA). Congress directed the U.S. EPA to investigate whether medical waste should be treated as hazardous or solid waste, and whether a federal regulatory scheme is warranted. In the following article, the author explores varied laws and policies governing the treatment, handling and disposal of medical waste in the United States, the ongoing debate about risks associated with exposure to medical waste, and the ramifications of our current fragmented regulatory approach