All You Need to Know About Medical Waste Incineration

Every day, healthcare facilities generate a wide range of potentially infectious or non-hazardous chemical wastes that require special disposal. The U.S. healthcare system produces more than five million tons of waste each year, including needles from routine vaccinations, tumors removed from patients, trace chemicals remaining in an IV line, and bloodied supplies from treating injuries.

Of the millions of tons of waste generated by hospitals each year, less than 8% (according to Practice Greenhealth) is classified as regulated medical waste (RMW), which requires specialized treatment from companies like WM. Two primary methods of treating medical waste are autoclave and incineration.

What is Medical Waste Incineration and How Does it Work?

Medical waste incineration is the process of burning specific wastes, including pathological, trace chemotherapy, and non-hazardous pharmaceutical wastes, as it is considered the safest, most effective means of treatment and prevents harm to the environment and our health in general. There are alternatives to incineration, including autoclaving, chemical treatments, or ozone disinfection, but these technologies are incapable of completely destroying certain medical wastes. Also, incineration is a required treatment method for specific medical waste streams, such as those outlined below, in some states and is a best management practice as well.

What Types of Medical Waste Are Incinerated?

It’s essential to refer to your waste vendor’s Waste Acceptance Policy, which outlines what it will and will not accept and under what conditions. At WM, the following types of waste are accepted for incineration (not autoclave treatment) when packaged appropriately per WM’s guidelines:

• Pathological Waste: Human or animal tissues, organs, limbs, surgical specimens, and other body parts, removed of formaldehyde, formalin, or other chemical preservatives.

• Paraffin Wax Blocks: Human or animal tissue-embedded blocks, packaged according to WM’s specific guidelines.

• Prion Waste: Packaged according to WM’s guidelines.

• Non-Hazardous Pharmaceutical Waste: Pharmaceuticals not classified as hazardous by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), or equivalent state agency.

• Trace Chemotherapy Waste: Waste contaminated through contact with, or having previously contained, chemotherapeutic agents.

Why Choose WM for Incineration and for Regulated Medical Waste Disposal?

Laws and best practices for managing medical waste vary worldwide. However, the use of incineration remains a necessary requirement for certain waste streams. In 2024, WM operated nine in North America, all running well below allowable emissions limits. 

WM is committed to supporting healthcare organizations, the environment, and public safety by responsibly managing waste using best practices and required regulations. The company continuously invests in advanced incinerator technology to provide waste management services that protect the public from harmful waste and align with the healthcare industry’s climate goals. WM’s efforts ensure compliance with regulatory standards while prioritizing environmental responsibility.

What Does the Future of Medical Waste Incineration Look Like?

WM recently opened a state-of-the-art Hospital, Medical, and Infectious Waste Incineration (HMIWI) facility in Nevada. This facility features two rotary kiln incinerators with a combined capacity of 7,000 pounds per hour. They burn waste at high temperatures, and each is fitted with an air pollution control system to significantly reduce potentially harmful emissions and ensure strict compliance with applicable local, state, and federal regulations. The resulting ash is transported to a permitted landfill for final disposal.

This location was purposefully designed with sustainability and environmental safeguards at the forefront. It is the blueprint for future HMIWIs. The facility was designed to reduce WM’s dependency on natural gas and water by using reclaimed water with onsite treatment and created a plant process water reuse system that will result in no industrial wastewater discharge. Additionally, waste-to-energy technology was included in the facility to generate steam energy from the waste treatment process emissions.

Learn more about WM’s approach to medical waste processing and how our RMW services can help you ensure compliance while protecting the environment.

This article is for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any specific facts or circumstances.