Medical Waste Disposal in Pennsylvania

Clean Waste Medical coordinates compliant regulated medical waste, sharps and pharmaceutical waste pickup for healthcare facilities across Pennsylvania. Scheduled or on-call service, compliant containers and a manifest for every collection.

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Medical waste rules in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania regulates regulated medical waste and chemotherapeutic waste through the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) under 25 Pa. Code Chapter 284, part of the Solid Waste Management Act. The chapter licenses transporters, sets a 30-day storage clock at the generator and uses 220 pounds a month as the line below which a practice may move its own waste.

  • Segregation and colour (§ 284.411): regulated medical waste, pathological waste and chemotherapeutic waste are separated at the point of origin into their own containers. Medical and pathological waste bags are fluorescent orange, orange-red or red; chemotherapeutic waste bags are yellow.
  • Containers (§ 284.413): leakproof on the sides and bottom, impervious to moisture and strong enough not to puncture, tear or burst. Used sharps go in rigid, tightly lidded, puncture-resistant containers; fluids over 20 cc in break-resistant, tightly lidded or stoppered containers.
  • Marking (§ 284.414): the outermost container shows the words regulated medical waste or chemotherapeutic waste, the universal biohazard symbol and the word BIOHAZARD, the date the container was filled or sealed and, for off-site transport, the generator's name, address and telephone number.
  • Storage (§§ 284.412, 284.415): no more than 30 days from the date the container is filled or sealed; waste that turns putrescent is removed within three business days, and refrigeration at 45°F (7°C) or below, or freezing at 0°F (-18°C) or below, is used when needed to keep it non-putrescent.
  • Transporters (§ 284.602): regulated medical or chemotherapeutic waste moves only with a transporter licensed by the DEP. A generator of less than 220 pounds a month may carry its own waste if it keeps the shipping papers; in transit, unrefrigerated waste may travel for up to 72 hours and refrigerated waste for up to five days (§ 284.512).
  • Tracking (§§ 284.701 to 284.714): every off-site shipment carries a log or shipping paper with the generator, the licensed transporter, the container count, the quantity and a signature. Records are kept for at least two years, and a generator that has not received delivery confirmation within 30 days reports it to the DEP.

Source: Pennsylvania DEP, 25 Pa. Code Chapter 284, Infectious and Chemotherapeutic Waste.

Reviewed September 2026.

This summary is general information, not legal advice. Requirements change; we confirm what applies to your facility during onboarding.Regulations by state

Services in Pennsylvania

  1. Regulated Medical Waste and Biohazard Waste DisposalScheduled or on-call pickup of regulated medical waste, also called biohazard or red bag waste, from healthcare facilities: compliant containers, permitted transport and a manifest for every collection.Red bag, cardboard box
  2. Sharps Waste DisposalSharps container supply, exchange and disposal for practices of every size, from a single dental office to a hospital network.Red sharps container
  3. Pharmaceutical Waste DisposalCompliant collection and disposal of expired, unused and partially used non-hazardous pharmaceuticals, with the right stream for each drug.Blue container
  4. Trace Chemotherapy Waste DisposalYellow-container collection for trace chemotherapy waste from oncology, infusion and specialty practices.Yellow container
  5. RCRA Hazardous Pharmaceutical WasteBlack-container programs for RCRA-listed and characteristic hazardous pharmaceutical waste, with generator-status guidance and cradle-to-grave documentation.Black container
  6. Pathological Waste DisposalDedicated, labeled collection for tissues, organs and surgical specimens from surgery centers, labs, dermatology practices and veterinary clinics.Red bag, pathology label

Facilities we serve in Pennsylvania

All facility types

Pennsylvania service questions

Do you serve every part of Pennsylvania?

We coordinate service through a network of qualified providers, and coverage in Pennsylvania is confirmed address by address. Tell us your address and operations confirms whether a route is available before anything is promised.

Which rules apply to medical waste in Pennsylvania?

Medical waste is regulated at the state level, alongside the federal OSHA, DOT and EPA rules that apply everywhere. The summary above covers the Pennsylvania requirements that most affect small and mid-size generators. See our regulations guide for the federal picture and links to every state.

What waste streams can you pick up in Pennsylvania?

Regulated (biohazardous) medical waste, sharps, pharmaceutical waste, trace chemotherapy waste, RCRA hazardous pharmaceutical waste and pathological waste, subject to verification of each stream at onboarding.

We are under contract. Can we still talk?

Of course. Most facilities are. Share your renewal date and we will follow up before it, so you can compare options without being rushed.

Medical waste pickup in Pennsylvania

Send us your facility list and current schedule. We reply with a clear quote and a start date operations has confirmed.

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