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Storage Limitations of Sharps and Biohazardous Waste

Updated over a week ago

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

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