Oregon DEQ: Land Quality - Solid Waste - Infectious Waste - Infectious Waste Management Requirements

The methods required for managing infectious waste varies depending on the type of waste.

Type of waste	Definition	Containment	Disposal
Pathological waste	Human tissue from surgery and lab procedures. Lab animals (does not include teeth.)	Red bags	Incineration
Biological waste	Blood and other body fluids that cannot go directly into the sewer. Waste materials that are saturated (dripping) with bodily fluids (not including diapers soiled with urine or feces.)	Red bags	Solids - Incineration or sterilization with steam heat. Liquids or soluble semi-solids - discharged into a sewer.
Sharps	Needles, IV tubing with needles attached, scalpel blades, lancets, glass tubes and syringes out of their original sterile containers.	Red boxes which are puncture proof	Incineration or sterilization with steam heat. After treatment they may be disposed of in a segregated area of a landfill.
Culture and stocks	Specimen cultures and dishes, serums, vaccines (exclude throat and urine cultures.)	Red bags	Incineration or sterilization with steam heat.