The Regulated Medical Waste Fact sheets are a publication of the Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste (DSHW), Bureau of Resource Recovery and Technical Programs. These fact sheets are designed only as an information guide, to be read in conjunction with the New Jersey RMW regulations. All persons are responsible for compliance with the RMW Regulations at N.J.A.C. 7:26-3A et seq.

"Treated RMW" means RMW that has been treated to substantially reduce or eliminate its potential for causing disease, but has not yet been destroyed (N.J.A.C. 7:26-3A.5).

"Destroyed RMW" means RMW that is no longer generally recognizable as RMW because all components of the waste have been ruined, torn apart, or mutilated to produce unrecognizable and unusable pieces smaller than three-quarters of an inch, except that all sharps must be smaller than one-half inch. It does not mean compaction or encapsulation except through:

1. Processes such as thermal treatment or melting, during which treatment and destruction occur;
2. Processes such as shredding, grinding, tearing, or breaking, during which only destruction takes place; or
3. Processes that melt plastics and fully encapsulate metallic or other sharps in the melted
plastic and, in addition, the resulting melted plastic mass must be completely sealed in a
secondary puncture-proof container that will not be opened or penetrated by undestroyed
sharps in any circumstance of handling.

WHO IS A MEDICAL WASTE
GENERATOR?
(N.J.A.C. 7:26-3A.5)

"Generator" means any person, by site, whose act or process produces RMW as defined in N.J.A.C. 7:26-3A.6) or whose act first causes a RMW to become subject to regulation. Noncontiguous properties owned or operated by the same person are separate sites and in the case where more than one person (for example, doctors with separate medial practices) are located in the same building and office, each individual business entity is a separate generator for the purposes of this subchapter. However, households utilizing home self-care exclusively are not generators.

USE OF THE
NJDEP RMW
TRACKING FORM

The New Jersey medical waste regulations require all medical waste generators, transporters, intermediate handlers and destination facilities to track RMW, no matter how small the amount generated. Each generator shipping RMW off-site is responsible for initiating the New Jersey
RMW Tracking Form. Each person in the chain of custody (handling process) of RMW assumes the responsibility for getting the waste to the proper destination facility for treatment, destruction or disposal.

CLASSIFICATION
OF WASTE

Portions of the New Jersey RMW Tracking Form must be completed by the RMW generators, transporters, intermediate handlers and by destination or disposal facilities (N.J.A.C. 7:26-3A.19,3A.31 and 3A.39).

In addition, RMW generated in New Jersey but transported for disposal to another state, which prints and requires use of its own tracking form, must also be reported on that state's tracking form (N.J.A.C. 7:26-3A.19(a)).

SEGREGATION OF WASTE
(N.J.A.C. 7:26-3A.10)

Generators must segregate RMW intended for transport off-site, to the extent practicable, prior to placement in containers. * Generators must segregate RMW into:

1.Sharps (Classes 4 and 7 as defined at N.J.A.C. 7:26-3A.6(a)) including sharps containing residual fluids;
2.Fluids (quantities greater than 20 cubic centimeters); and
3.Other RMW.
* If waste other than RMW is placed in the same container(s) as RMW then the generator must package, label and mark the container and its entire contents according to the RMW rule requirements at N.J.A.C. 7:26-3A.11, 3A.14 and 3A.15.

STORAGE
(N.J.A.C. 7:26-3A.12)

Any person who stores RMW prior to treatment or disposal on-site or for transport off-site must:

1. Store the RMW in a manner and location that maintains the integrity of the packaging and provides protection from the elements;
2. Maintain the RMW in a nonputrescent state using refrigeration if necessary;
3. Lock any outdoor storage areas containing RMW to prevent unauthorized access;
4. Limit access to on-site storage areas only to authorized employees;
5. Store the RMW in a manner that provides protection from animals and does not provide a breeding place or a food source for insects and rodents;
6. Dispose of RMW immediately if it becomes putrescent; and
7. Store RMW for no longer than one year.

1. Rigid;
2. Leak-resistant;
3. Impervious to moisture;
4. Sufficiently strong to prevent tearing or bursting under normal conditions of use and handling;
5. Sealed to prevent leakage during transport;
6. Puncture resistant for packaging sharps and sharps with residual fluids; and
7. Break-resistant and tightly lidded or stoppered for packaging fluids (quantities greater than 20 cubic centimeters).
8. Solid waste that is not managed as RMW shall not be packaged for shipment inside a RMW container or in containers attached to, or part of an RMW container.
* Oversized RMW need not be placed in containers (N.J.A.C. 7:26-3A.11(d)).

* Exemptions: N.J.A.C. 7:26-3A.17(a): Generators of less than 3 cubic feet (50 pounds) of RMW per month that transport only their own RMW to another generator for storage or disposal are exempt from transporter registration requirements provided: (1) the RMW is transported by the generator or authorized employee in a vehicle with a gross weight of less than 8,000 pounds, owned by the generator or an authorized employee; (2) the original generation point and the storage point or disposal facility are located in New Jersey; and (3) the generator completes a New Jersey Tracking Form in accordance with (N.J.A.C. 7:26-3A.19(e)).

Labeling refers to the designation of the contents as "medical waste" or "infectious waste". Labeling means each generator must, prior to offering for transport off-site, label each container of untreated RMW with a water-resistant label affixed to or printed on the outside of the container. The label shall include the words "Medical Waste", or "Infectious Waste", or display the universal biohazard symbol. Containers of treated medical waste or red plastic bags used as inner packaging are not required to be labeled (N.J.A.C. 7:26-3A.14(a)1).

Marking refers to the use of a name and address. Treated RMW is required to be marked (N.J.A.C. 3A.14(a)2). Marking means the generator, including an intermediate handler must mark the outermost surface of the outer container of RMW prepared for shipment with a water-resistant identification tag containing the generator's or intermediate handler's name and address, the transporter's name and NJDEP solid waste registration number, date of shipment, and identification of the contents as RMW (N.J.A.C. 7:26-3A.15(a)1).

Copy 6 Generator Copy - retained by generator
Copy 3,4 & 5 Transporter Copy - retained by transporter
Copy 2 Destination Facility Copy - retained by destination facility owner/operator
Copy 1 Generator Copy - mailed by destination facility back to
generator

a. The Generator completes items 1 through 15, including signing the certification at Item 15;
b. The Transporter verifies the quantity, notes any discrepancies in Item 23, and completes and signs item 16:
c. The Generator removes copy 6 and keeps it; and
d. The Transporter retains copies 3, 4 and 5 and delivers the waste to the approved destination facility.

RECORDKEEPING

Retain a copy of each tracking form for at least three years from the date the waste was accepted by the initial transporter unless the Department specifically requires an additional retention period (N.J.A.C. 7:26-3A.21(a)1).

RECEIPT OF
DESTINATION

If a copy of the completed tracking form is not received from the destination facility within 35 days of acceptance of waste by the initial transporter, contact the transporter or facility to determine the status of the tracked waste (N.J.A.C. 7:26-3A.22(a)).

EXCEPTION
REPORT

1. A legible copy of the original tracking form for which the generator does not have confirmation;
2. A cover letter signed by the generator explaining the efforts taken and the results to locate the RMW.

ANNUAL REPORTS

All generators of RMW must complete and submit an Annual Generator Report (forms are provided by the NJDEP) to the Department for the period of June 22 through June 21 of each calendar year by July 21 of each calendar year (N.J.A.C. 7:26-3A.21(d)) unless the Department specifically changes the reporting or filing date.

GENERATOR WITH
ON-SITE
INCINERATORS
OPERATING LOG

Generators of RMW with on-site incinerators must keep a Generator On-Site Incinerator Operating Log at their facility that includes: date, duration and quantity (in pounds) of the incineration cycle, the quantity of ash generated and transported off site, including dates of transport and identification of the transporter and disposal facility (N.J.A.C. 7:26-3A.25(a)).

OPERATORS WITH
ON-SITE INCINERATORS
THAT ACCEPT
RMW FROM OTHER
GENERATORS

Generators of RMW with on-site incinerators that accept RMW from other generators must maintain information on: the date of waste acceptance and the origin and quantity of the RMW. Generators must also register with the NJDEP and declare intent to operate on a commercial or non-commercial basis. Additional information on registration as a disposal facility may be obtained by calling 609) 984-6620 (N.J.A.C. 7:26-3A.25(b)).

GENERATORS ON-SITE REPORTS
(N.J.A.C.7:26-3A.26

Generators of RMW with on-site incinerators must submit annual on-site incinerator reports on or before July 30 of each calendar year covering the period of July 1 through June 30.

The report shall be submitted to the NJDEP at the following address:

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
D ivision of Solid and Hazardous Waste
Bureau of Resource Recovery and Technical Programs
PO Box 414
Trenton, NJ 08625-0414
Phone (609) 984-6620