Medical Waste
Disposal Locations
Household medical waste is generated through the non-professional health care provided at home by family members and friends, excluding used sharp waste (needles).
Household medical waste does not include medical waste generated at the home by professional home health care services such as hospice and visiting nurses services. Waste generated through these services falls under the same regulatory constraints as commercial generated medical waste. For information regarding the acceptance and required treatment of commercially generated medical waste, click on the business tab above.
Flushable materials, including liquid blood and blood contaminated fluids, should be flushed down the toilet.
Sharps/Needle waste - As of September 1, 2008, by law it is illegal for anyone to dispose of sharp waste in the solid waste stream. In the home, "sharps" are defined as disposable hypodermic needles, syringes, lancets, and other medical devices used for self-injection or blood test, which may have a sharp tip or end. For proper Needles/Sharps disposal, including free disposal locations, see the Needles/Sharps page of the Waste Guide.
Riverside County Landfills
Un-flushable material that is contaminated with blood and blood contaminated fluids - this waste is accepted and Riverside County Landfills. Place the waste in strong plastic bags and store for no less than 2 weeks at the house prior to disposal. This small storage time helps to reduce the likelihood that the material could come in contact with solid waste equipment and employees while it is still in its infectious stages.
Fee schedule: Routine refuse disposal rates apply
Medical Waste as defined by the Medical Waste Management Act
(a) “Medical Waste” means waste which meets both of the following requirements:
(1) The waste is composed of waste which is generated or produced as a result of any of the following actions:
(A) Diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals.
(B) Research pertaining to the activities specified in subparagraph (A).
(C) The production or testing of biologicals.
(D) The accumulation of properly contained home-generated sharps waste that is brought by a patient, a member of the patient’s family, or by a person authorized by the enforcement agency, to a point of consolidation approved by the enforcement agency pursuant to Section 117904 or authorized pursuant to Section 118147.
(E) Removal of a regulated waste, as defined in Section 5193 of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations, from a trauma scene by a trauma scene waste management practitioner.
(2) The waste is either of the following:
(A) Biohazardous waste.
(B) Sharps waste.
(b) For purposes of this section, “biologicals” means medicinal preparations made from living organisms and their products, including, but not limited to, serums, vaccines, antigens, and anti-toxins.
(c) Medical waste includes trauma scene waste.
Medical Waste Hauler
Untreated Commercial Medical Waste must be picked up from the generator’s facility by a registered medical waste hauler who transports the untreated waste to an approved medical waste treatment facility. The State of California Health Human Services Agency, Department of Public Health maintains a list of registered medical waste haulers and service providers which can be found at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CEH/DRSEM/Pages/EMB/MedicalWaste/Transporters.aspx
Alternative Treatment Facilities
For a listing of medical waste treatment facilities for your untreated medical waste, please refer to https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CEH/DRSEM/CDPH%20Document%20Library/EMB/MedicalWaste/Alt%20Tech%20List%20%20050219.pdf
Riverside County Landfills
Only treated medical waste is accepted at the Riverside County landfills. The medical waste must be treated with an approved method in compliance with Federal, State and Local laws, and the Riverside County Department of Waste Resources’ Medical Waste Acceptance Policy. The Medical Waste Acceptance Profile Package (Medical Waste Acceptance Profile sheet, Medical Waste Acceptance Policy Requirements Certification Form, and applicable sections of Riverside County Ordinance 779) is required to be completed by:
- All large quantity medical waste generators wishing to gain or maintain landfill privileges in Riverside County.
- All large quantity medical waste generator facilities, regardless of location, that have their waste transferred to a solid waste transfer station that delivers the waste for final burial in Riverside County.
A copy of the Riverside County Department of Waste Resources’ Medical Waste Acceptance Policy can be obtained by calling (951) 486-3200.
Fee schedule: Routine refuse disposal rates apply
This information above is offered as a public service in an effort to eliminate illegal and improper waste disposal. As the information may not be comprehensive, the Department encourages the public to research additional companies that are available for the services sought. The companies are not affiliated, endorsed or regulated by the Department. Accordingly, as with any professional service, please confirm the accuracy of the company’s information and request copies or verification of the company's license and/or permits to provide the service, prior to utilizing its services. Under no circumstances, directly or indirectly, shall the Department be held responsible or liable for reliance on this information. If you would like to include your company on the list, please contact [email protected] or call (951) 486-3200.