Small Quantity Generators (SQG) and Large Quantity Generators (LQG) of the medical waste, along with the maximum on-site storage durations for both sharps and biohazardous (regulated medical) waste for each category.
Note: Some states have explicit definitions and timeframes, others may not differentiate between SQGs and LQGs or may not specify storage durations.
Medical Waste Storage Requirements by State
Here are the different states in the U.S. with the medical waste storage requirements.
Alabama
| SQG | LQG |
Definition | ≤220 lbs/month | >220 lbs/month |
Sharps Storage Duration | 7 days unrefrigerated; up to 30 days if refrigerated | 7 days unrefrigerated; up to 30 days if refrigerated |
Biohazardous Storage Duration | 7 days unrefrigerated; up to 30 days if refrigerated | 7 days unrefrigerated; up to 30 days if refrigerated |
Alaska
| SQG | LQG |
Definition | Not specified | Not specified |
Sharps Storage Duration | 7 days unrefrigerated; up to 30 days if refrigerated | 7 days unrefrigerated; up to 30 days if refrigerated |
Biohazardous Storage Duration | 7 days unrefrigerated; up to 30 days if refrigerated | 7 days unrefrigerated; up to 30 days if refrigerated |
Arizona
| SQG | LQG |
Definition | Not specified | Not specified |
Sharps Storage Duration | 7 days unrefrigerated; up to 30 days if refrigerated | 7 days unrefrigerated; up to 30 days if refrigerated |
Biohazardous Storage Duration | 7 days unrefrigerated; up to 30 days if refrigerated | 7 days unrefrigerated; up to 30 days if refrigerated |
Arkansas
| SQG | LQG |
Definition | Not specified | Not specified |
Sharps Storage Duration | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices |
Biohazardous Storage Duration | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices |
California
| SQG | LQG |
Definition | <200 lbs/month | ≥200 lbs/month |
Sharps Storage Duration | Indefinitely until container is full and sealed | Indefinitely until container is full and sealed |
Biohazardous Storage Duration | 30 days from the date of generation | 30 days from the date of generation |
Colorado
| SQG | LQG |
Definition | Not specified | Not specified |
Sharps Storage Duration | 30 days unrefrigerated; up to 90 days if refrigerate | 30 days unrefrigerated; up to 90 days if refrigerate |
Biohazardous Storage Duration | 30 days unrefrigerated; up to 90 days if refrigerate | 30 days unrefrigerated; up to 90 days if refrigerate |
Connecticut
| SQG | LQG |
Definition | Not specified | Not specified |
Sharps Storage Duration | No specific duration; must meet packaging & handling standards | No specific duration; must meet packaging & handling standards |
Biohazardous Storage Duration | No specific duration; must meet packaging & handling standards | No specific duration; must meet packaging & handling standards |
Delaware
| SQG | LQG |
Definition | Not specified | Not specified |
Sharps Storage Duration | No specific duration; must meet packaging & handling standards | No specific duration; must meet packaging & handling standards |
Biohazardous Storage Duration | No specific duration; must meet packaging & handling standards | No specific duration; must meet packaging & handling standards |
Florida
| SQG | LQG |
Definition | <25 lbs/month | ≥25 lbs/month |
Sharps Storage Duration | 30 days maximum on-site storage | 30 days maximum on-site storage |
Biohazardous Storage Duration | 30 days maximum on-site storage | 30 days maximum on-site storage
|
Georgia
| SQG | LQG |
Definition | Not specified | Not specified |
Sharps Storage Duration | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices |
Biohazardous Storage Duration | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices |
Hawaii
| SQG | LQG |
Definition | Not specified | Not specified |
Sharps Storage Duration | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices |
Biohazardous Storage Duration | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices |
Idaho
| SQG | LQG |
Definition | Not specified | Not specified |
Sharps Storage Duration | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices |
Biohazardous Storage Duration | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices |
Illnois
| SQG | LQG |
Definition | Not specified; 50 lbs/month is a key threshold | >50 lbs/month |
Sharps Storage Duration | 30 days maximum on-site storage | 30 days maximum on-site storage |
Biohazardous Storage Duration | 30 days maximum on-site storage | 30 days maximum on-site storage |
Indiana
| SQG | LQG |
Definition | Not specified | Not specified |
Sharps Storage Duration | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices |
Biohazardous Storage Duration | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices |
Iowa
| SQG | LQG |
Definition | Not specified | Not specified |
Sharps Storage Duration | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices |
Biohazardous Storage Duration | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices |
Kansas
| SQG | LQG |
Definition | Not specified | Not specified |
Sharps Storage Duration | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices |
Biohazardous Storage Duration | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices |
Kentucky
| SQG | LQG |
Definition | Not specified | Not specified |
Sharps Storage Duration | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices |
Biohazardous Storage Duration | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices |
Louisiana
| SQG | LQG |
Definition | Not specified | Not specified |
Sharps Storage Duration | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices |
Biohazardous Storage Duration | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices |
Maine
| SQG | LQG |
Definition | Not specified | Not specified |
Sharps Storage Duration | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices |
Biohazardous Storage Duration | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices |
Maryland
| SQG | LQG |
Definition | Not specified | Not specified |
Sharps Storage Duration | 7 days unrefrigerated; up to 30 days if refrigerated | 7 days unrefrigerated; up to 30 days if refrigerated |
Biohazardous Storage Duration | 7 days unrefrigerated; up to 30 days if refrigerated | 7 days unrefrigerated; up to 30 days if refrigerated |
Massachusetts
| SQG | LQG |
Definition | <50 lbs/month | ≥50 lbs/month |
Sharps Storage Duration | No specific duration; must adhere to state storage standards | No specific duration; must adhere to state storage standards |
Biohazardous Storage Duration | No specific duration; must adhere to state storage standards | No specific duration; must adhere to state storage standards |
Michigan
| SQG | LQG |
Definition | Not specified | Not specified |
Sharps Storage Duration | 90 days maximum on-site storage | 90 days maximum on-site storage |
Biohazardous Storage Duration | 90 days maximum on-site storage | 90 days maximum on-site storage |
Minnesota
| SQG | LQG |
Definition | Not specified | Not specified |
Sharps Storage Duration | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices |
Biohazardous Storage Duration | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices | No specific duration; follow general safe storage practices |
Mississippi
| SQG | LQG |
Definition | Not specified | Not specified |
Sharps Storage Duration | 7 days at room temperature; up to 90 days if frozen | 7 days at room temperature; up to 90 days if frozen |
Biohazardous Storage Duration | 7 days at room temperature; up to 90 days if frozen | 7 days at room temperature; up to 90 days if frozen |