Know Your EPA Category to Ensure Compliant Disposal

When it comes to medical waste, healthcare facilities are categorized by the amount of waste they generate– an important component to proper disposal of hazardous waste. These categories establish the mandates and regulations for proper collection, storage and disposal of all waste generated, so it’s crucial for all generators to know which category they fall under. Healthcare facilities that qualify as large quantity generators (LQGs) must adhere to a higher level of regulatory requirements than small generators. Complying with these strict standards is not just a formality; it’s a vital step to ensure safety, environmental protection and legal conformity.

Here’s a look at large quantity generators and specific guidelines for disposing of medical waste:

What Classifies As a Large Quantity Generator?

Each classification of medical waste generator has specific amounts of waste– to be categorized as a large quantity generator, your facility must generate more than 2,200 pounds of hazardous waste monthly or over 2.2 pounds of acute hazardous waste per month. Examples of healthcare organizations that fall into the large quantity category include:

Pharmaceutical Manufacturers can generate large amounts of medical waste during the production process including damaged or defective products–all of which can be hazardous if improperly disposed of.

Hospitals fall under the large quantity category because of the broad range of procedures performed on site–from treatments for illnesses and diseases, to surgeries and more.

Outpatient Surgical Centers can generate large amounts of medical waste including materials from anesthesia, medications used during procedures, waste from surgical procedures and more.

Research Laboratories often engage in clinical trials, pharmaceutical research and medical treatment research that can generate a variety of hazardous waste.

Important Considerations of LQG Categorization

If your facility is a large quantity generator, you must understand the significant responsibilities that come with this classification including:

Stricter Regulations: Mandates for large quantity generators are designed to reduce the risk associated with handling and disposing of hazardous waste which helps safeguard the health and well-being of healthcare workers, patients, the community and the environment.

Legal Obligations: Understanding and abiding by regulations associated with being a large quantity generator is key because failure to do so can result in serious consequences, including violations, fines and penalties.

All Points Medical Waste serves large quantity medical waste generators throughout the state of Florida. We are a family-owned and operated company located in Stuart, Florida and offer a wide range of medical waste disposal services. Our customers include hospitals, clinics, treatment facilities, surgical centers and more. Give us a call today or complete the form on this page to learn more.