Medical and Infectious Waste Administrative Codes and Statutes

The following rules and statutes directly apply to infectious waste. Please note that other rules, such as those for hazardous wastes may also apply.

The Wisconsin Administrative Codes [exit DNR] pertaining to Medical and Infectious Waste

• ch. 500 [exit DNR] - General Solid Waste Management Requirements
• s. NR 500.03 - defines the terms used in NR 526 (Note: terms are compiled in PUB WA820 [PDF 56KB]
• ch. 502 [exit DNR]
• s. NR 502.05 - Requirements for obtaining a license for a solid waste storage facility, including infectious waste storage
• s. NR 502.08 - Requirements for obtaining a license for a solid waste treatment facility
• ch. 520 [exit DNR] - Solid Waste Management Fees and Financial Responsibility Requirements
• ch. 526 [exit DNR] - Medical Waste Management. See key provisions listed below.

The most frequently requested citations are:

• NR 526.04(2) - Household generator exemption
• NR 526.05(1) - Items presumed to be infectious
• NR 526.05(2) - Items presumed to be non-infectious
• NR 526.09(5) - Provisions for sharps collection
• NR 526.10 - Transporter requirements
• NR 526.11 - Treatment standards
• NR 526.16 - .22 - Medical waste reduction requirements

Minimum safety-related requirements that apply to all generators including individual households are:

• NR 526.06 - Separating waste
• NR 526.07 - Containing infectious waste
• NR 526.08 - Handling infectious waste
• NR 526.09(4) - Storing and transferring infectious waste
• NR 526.10(3) - Transporting and shipping infectious waste
• NR 526.11 and 526.12(4) - Treating infectious waste
• NR 526.13 - Disposing of infectious waste

To find out if administrative requirements apply to you, see the following:

• NR 526.09(2) - Storage and transfer licenses
• NR 526.10(2) - Transportation licenses
• NR 526.12(2) - Treatment licenses
• NR 526.14(2) - Infectious waste manifests
• NR 526.14(2) - Recordkeeping
• NR 526.15(2) - Annual Reports

The Wisconsin State Statutes [exit DNR] pertaining to Medical and Infectious Waste

The Wisconsin Legislature offers the state statutes online.

• ss. 227.11 (2) (a), 287.03 (1) (a) and 289.06, Wis. Stats.- General authority for writing rules
• ss. 287.07 (7) and (8), Wis. Stats. - Medical Waste Reduction
• s. 299.51 (3), Wis. Stats. - Medical Waste Management
• s. 285.63 (10), Wis. Stats. - Medical Waste Incinerators

Need More Information? Contact:

DNR Medical Waste@Wisconsin.gov