Medical Waste Disposal in Wisconsin

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

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Medical waste rules in Wisconsin

Wisconsin regulates infectious waste through the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) under Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter NR 526. The chapter separates safety rules, which apply to everyone, from administrative rules such as licensing, manifests and annual reports, which mostly start at 50 pounds of infectious waste a month.

  • What counts (NR 526.05): sharps (used or unused), bulk human blood and body fluids, human tissue, microbiological laboratory waste and tissue or fluids from animals carrying a zoonotic agent. Items soiled but not saturated with blood, and IV tubing with the needle removed, are presumed not infectious. Trace chemotherapy waste has its own rule (NR 526.055): rigid containers labeled Trace chemotherapy waste and Incinerate only, and incineration as the treatment.
  • Containment (NR 526.06, 526.07): infectious waste is never mixed with other waste in the same bag. Sharps go in rigid, puncture-resistant containers labeled with the biohazard emblem or the words bio-hazard, sharps or infectious waste; other waste in a plastic bag meeting ASTM D1709 (165 grams) and D1922, sealed, inside a rigid container such as a corrugated box, covered reusable container or covered cart labeled with the emblem and the word bio-hazard. Nothing is compacted (NR 526.08).
  • Storage (NR 526.09): a generator storing its own waste on the property where it was generated needs no storage licence but keeps the storage area clean, impermeable, enclosed, limited to authorised staff and free of odour, refrigerating below 42°F when needed. Containers are removed and emptied as necessary and at least every 90 days, and the generator keeps a record of how much went where.
  • Transport (NR 526.10): infectious waste moves only with a transporter holding a DNR infectious waste transportation licence for each vehicle, except that a generator moving less than 50 pounds a calendar month may carry its own. Licensed vehicles carry WDNR and the licence number on the doors, a spill contingency plan and a manifest for every load.
  • Manifests and records (NR 526.14): off-site shipments travel with a Wisconsin infectious waste manifest (DNR form 4400-176) or a US DOT shipping paper; the transporter leaves a copy with the generator at pickup. Generators sending less than 50 pounds a month off the property are exempt from manifesting but still keep records of quantities. Manifests and treatment certifications are kept for at least three years, five for hospitals, clinics and nursing homes.
  • Annual report (NR 526.15): generators required to manifest file an annual infectious waste report (DNR form 4400-177) by March 1 with the filing fee in NR 520.04; medical facilities also keep a medical waste reduction policy and plan under NR 526.16 to 526.22.

Source: Wisconsin DNR, Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter NR 526, Medical Waste Management.

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 Wisconsin

  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 Wisconsin

All facility types

Wisconsin service questions

Do you serve every part of Wisconsin?

We coordinate service through a network of qualified providers, and coverage in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin?

Medical waste is regulated at the state level, alongside the federal OSHA, DOT and EPA rules that apply everywhere. The summary above covers the Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin?

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 Wisconsin

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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