---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 6992b"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "6992b"
heading: "Tracking of medical waste"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/6992b"
units:
  - "Chapter 82 — Solid Waste Disposal"
  - "Subchapter X — Demonstration Medical Waste Tracking Program"
---

# §6992b. Tracking of medical waste

- (a) **Demonstration program—** Not later than 6 months after November 1, 1988, the [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) shall promulgate regulations establishing a program for the tracking of the [medical waste](/usc/42/6903.md?p=40) listed in [section 6992a of this title](/usc/42/6992a.md) which is generated in a [State](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31) subject to the [demonstration](/usc/42/6903.md?p=2A) program. The program shall (1) provide for tracking of the transportation of the waste from the generator to the [disposal](/usc/42/6903.md?p=3) facility, except that waste that is incinerated need not be tracked after incineration, (2) include a system for providing the generator of the waste with assurance that the waste is received by the [disposal](/usc/42/6903.md?p=3) facility, (3) use a uniform form for tracking in each of the [demonstration](/usc/42/6903.md?p=2A) [States](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31), and (4) include the following requirements:
  - (A) A requirement for segregation of the waste at the point of generation where practicable.
  - (B) A requirement for placement of the waste in containers that will protect waste handlers and the public from exposure.
  - (C) A requirement for appropriate labeling of containers of the waste.
- (b) **Small quantities—** In the program under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) may establish an exemption for generators of small quantities of [medical waste](/usc/42/6903.md?p=40) listed under [section 6992a of this title](/usc/42/6992a.md), except that the [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) may not exempt from the program any [person](/usc/42/6903.md?p=15) who, or facility that, [generates](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=8) 50 pounds or more of such waste in any calendar month.
- (c) **On-site incinerators—** Concurrently with the promulgation of regulations under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) shall promulgate a recordkeeping and reporting requirement for any generator in a [demonstration](/usc/42/6903.md?p=2A) [State](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31) of [medical waste](/usc/42/6903.md?p=40) listed in [section 6992a of this title](/usc/42/6992a.md) that (1) incinerates [medical waste](/usc/42/6903.md?p=40) listed in [section 6992a of this title](/usc/42/6992a.md) on site and (2) does not track such waste under the regulations promulgated under [subsection (a)](#a). Such requirement shall require the generator to report to the [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) on the volume and types of [medical waste](/usc/42/6903.md?p=40) listed in [section 6992a of this title](/usc/42/6992a.md) that the generator incinerated on site during the 6 months following the effective date of the requirements of this subsection.
- (d) **Type of medical waste and types of generators—** For each of the requirements of this section, the regulations may vary for different types of [medical waste](/usc/42/6903.md?p=40) and for different types of [medical waste](/usc/42/6903.md?p=40) generators.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–272, title II, § 11003, as added Pub. L. 100–582, § 2(a), Nov. 1, 1988, 102 Stat. 2952.)