Healthcare Waste Regulations: What Changed in 2025—and What to Watch in 2026

In 2025, Massachusetts, Maryland, Missouri, and Wisconsin adopted the EPA’s universal waste designation for aerosol cans. This allows facilities in those states to manage aerosol waste under simplified universal waste standards.

2025 State Regulatory Updates

Alabama Medical Waste Rules

Alabama implemented a two-phase update to its medical waste regulations:

• Phase 1 (effective February 2025): Updated waste classification, storage, and packaging requirements.

• Phase 2 (effective August 2025): Introduced new registration and permitting requirements following earlier public hearings.

Wisconsin Infectious Waste Rules

Wisconsin continued moving toward updated infectious waste regulations. Following a preliminary public hearing in January 2025, the state is expected to release a draft rule in 2026.

Tennessee Medical Waste Definition

In July 2025, Tennessee revised its definition of “medical waste,” providing clearer guidance on what materials fall within the category—and what does not.

What to Expect in 2026

EPA Proposed Rules

The EPA is expected to advance several significant updates in 2026, including:

• Proposals to classify solar panels and lithium batteries as federal universal waste

• A separate rule intended to phase out paper hazardous waste manifests and transition fully to electronic systems

Continued State Adoptions

Many states are anticipated to adopt remaining provisions of federal pharmaceutical waste and universal waste rules. This ongoing alignment will help create more consistency across state programs with EPA standards.

Healthcare Trends and Predictions for 2026

• Home healthcare growth will bring increased medical waste. Home healthcare is projected to reach $176 billion by 2032. As home healthcare continues to expand, 2026 is poised to be a critical year for addressing one of its biggest challenges: the rising volume of medical waste generated in home settings. Increasing amounts of sharps, medications, and other biohazardous materials are being managed outside of traditional healthcare facilities, where strict waste-handling protocols are not always in place. This gap can contribute to risks such as needlestick injuries, infection spread, and misuse of leftover medications. To help mitigate these issues, healthcare professionals working in home environments will require proper training, along with access to essential tools such as sharps disposal solutions and regulated medical waste mail-back programs.

• The decentralization of healthcare will complicate medical waste management. As healthcare delivery continues to expand beyond traditional hospitals and health systems—into patients’ homes, retail clinics, workplaces, and community sites—this increased convenience can also introduce compliance challenges and safety risks due to limited infrastructure and waste handling expertise. To mitigate these risks, nontraditional care settings should consider partnering with a qualified medical waste provider capable of managing growing waste volumes while ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements and maintaining public safety.

Preparing for What’s Ahead

As regulatory expectations grow more complex, healthcare facilities must remain proactive. Understanding upcoming changes—and preparing operational processes accordingly—can help organizations stay compliant and minimize risk.

Looking for support navigating the latest regulations? Learn how WM can help with your compliance efforts in 2026.

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