Section NR 526.16 - General(1) PURPOSE. The purpose of this subchapter is to require medical facilities, except those exempted under sub. (2), to implement policies which will do all of the following: reduce the amount of medical waste generated by medical facilities, prevent the mixing of infectious waste with non- infectious waste, promote practical alternatives to disposable items in medical facilities, and maintain effective waste reduction programs. Waste reduction efforts initiated prior to November 1, 1994 may be incorporated into the policy and plan. Note: Medical waste does not mean all of the waste produced in a medical setting. Waste materials from a medical setting which do not meet the definition of "infectious waste" in statutes are considered to be "medical waste" only if the generator mixes them with infectious waste or manages them as though they are infectious waste.
(2) EXEMPTIONS. Directors of all medical facilities are encouraged to audit their waste management practices and to reduce medical waste whenever possible. The following directors of medical facilities are exempt from the requirements of this subchapter, provided they keep records of the amount of medical waste generated in order to verify whether or not they are exempt from the requirements of this subchapter and they retain the records for 5 years:(a) Directors of medical facilities which generate less than 50 pounds of medical waste per calendar month, regardless of where the waste is treated.(b) Directors of medical facilities which generate more than 50 pounds of medical waste during only one calendar month of a calendar year, regardless of where the waste is treated, and which average less than 50 pounds of medical waste per month for the same calendar year.Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources NR 526.16
Cr. Register, October, 1994, No. 466, eff. 11-1-94.