Medical waste rules in Tempe, AZ
Arizona regulates biohazardous medical waste through the Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) under Arizona Administrative Code R18-13-1401 to 1420, with transporters licensed by the state. The rules are notable for allowing up to 90 days of on-site storage when the waste is kept cold.
- Generator duties (R18-13-1406): package the waste to the rule's standards, then either self-haul it or store it on site and set it out for a licensed transporter. A tracking document accompanies each shipment with the names and addresses of the generator, transporter and treatment or disposal facility, the quantity by weight, volume or container count, DOT identification numbers and the collection date; the generator keeps its copy for the period 49 CFR 172.201 requires.
- Containers (R18-13-1407): rigid, puncture-resistant and leak-proof on the sides and bottom, labeled with the universal biohazard symbol, with a fill line and a secure lid for transport.
- Storage (R18-13-1408): putrescible waste may sit unrefrigerated for up to 72 hours if it causes no odor beyond the property line and attracts no vermin; from hour 72 through day 90 it must be refrigerated at 40°F or below. Non-putrescible waste may be held unrefrigerated for up to 90 days. Storage beyond 90 days needs a facility plan approval. Storage areas are secured, signed in English and Spanish, and protected from water, wind and animals.
- Transport (R18-13-1409): transporters are licensed by ADEQ for five-year terms, use fully enclosed leak-proof cargo compartments, and deliver within the same 72-hour, 90-day refrigerated or 90-day non-putrescible windows.
- Sharps and special categories (R18-13-1419, 1420): separate handling rules apply to sharps, chemotherapy waste, cultures and stocks, and animal waste.
Source: A.A.C. R18-13-1408, Storage (Arizona Administrative Code, Title 18, Chapter 13, Article 14).
Reviewed September 2026.
General information, not legal advice. Requirements change; we confirm what applies to your facility during onboarding.Arizona overviewAll states