Small Quantity Generators (SQGs) can reduce disposal costs and stay compliant by keeping sharps and medical waste separate from everyday trash. By sorting correctly, only actual medical waste is treated as regulated waste, which lowers volume, reduces risks, and avoids extra fees for items that do not belong in medical waste containers.
Essential Waste Segregation Steps for Small Quantity Generators
Small Quantity Generators (SQGs) can stay compliant and lower costs by properly identifying regulated medical waste, disposing of sharps safely, and minimizing unnecessary waste. The steps below outline the essential practices for effective waste segregation.
Identify What Qualifies as Regulated Medical Waste
According to OSHA and state-specific definitions, Regulated Medical Waste (RMW) typically includes the following.Items saturated or caked with blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM).
Sharps
Needles, scalpels, whether used or unused.Cultures, stocks, or microbiological wastes.
Pathological and anatomical waste (in some states).
Appropriate Sharps Waste Disposal
Sharps must always be disposed of in FDA-cleared, puncture-resistant sharps containers.
Items That Can Go in the Regular Trash
These everyday items can be disposed of in the municipal solid waste stream if they are not visibly contaminated or saturated.
Gloves, masks, and gowns not soaked in blood or OPIM.
IV bags, tubing, and packaging without visible contamination.
Disposable instruments or items that were not used on patients.
Non-contaminated dressings, gauze, or wipes.
Best Practices for Waste Minimization
Implementing simple segregation and training practices helps reduce unnecessary disposal, improve compliance, and lower costs.
Train staff on segregation criteria and visual indicators of contamination.
Keep clear signage on and around waste containers.
Use color-coded bins (e.g., red for biohazard, clear or black for general waste).
Perform periodic audits to correct misclassification and reduce over-disposal.
PureWay Solutions to Support Compliance
PureWay provides tools, training, and disposal programs designed to help facilities manage waste safely while meeting OSHA and state-specific requirements.PureWay offers:
Mail-back and pickup programs tailored for Small Quantity Generators (SQGs).
Training modules to educate staff on Regulated Medical Waste (RMW) segregation.
OSHA compliance tools and signage packages.
Sharps containers and smart collection systems to streamline segregation.
Note:
Do not place sharps in regular trash or biohazard bags, Even if unused.
When in doubt, check state-specific definitions of “saturation” and follow OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard 29 CFR 1910.1030.