Transferring Medical Waste
Requirements for storing and transferring medical waste received from off-site sources, including registration, fees, and reporting.
On this page:
Transfer at a Transfer Station, Storage Facility, or Processing Facility
You may transfer packages of untreated medical waste between transportation units at and on the premises of a facility registered as a medical waste transfer station, a storage facility, or a processing facility that has been approved to function as a medical waste transfer station according to Title 30, Texas Administrative Code, Subsection 326.53(b)(17) [30 TAC 326.53(b)(17) ].
Owners of operators of a medical waste storage facility, processing facility, or a facility used only for the transfer of medical waste must obtain a registration as specified in Title 30, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 326, Subchapter F . Apply by completing and submitting the following forms, following the instructions on each:
-
Application Form (Form TCEQ-20789)
- Core Data Form (Form TCEQ-10400)
-
Correspondence Cover Sheet (Form TCEQ-20714)
- Submit Documents Electronically NEW
To streamline incoming document processing and review, please submit applications, reports, and other documents to the Municipal Solid Waste Permits Section electronically by email or via the TCEQ secure FTP site (TCEQ FTPS), in addition to submitting paper copies.
Back to topFees
You are required to pay a fee to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality if your medical waste facility processes (treat and transfer) untreated medical waste for disposal by means other than landfilling (for example, incineration, composting, autoclaving, and other treatment methods) as specified in 30 TAC 326.87 . If your medical waste facility is a transfer station only, you are not required to pay a fee.
Reports
Quarterly Report
The owner or operator of a medical waste processing facility (excluding "transfer" only) is required to submit the amounts of waste received each quarter as specified in 30 TAC 326.89 .
Find more information on how to submit your quarterly report at the Municipal Solid Waste Quarterly Report Requirements and Disposal Fee (RG-289).
Annual Report
The owner or operator of a medical waste processing facility (including "transfer" only) is required to submit:
- Yearly totals summary for the reporting period as specified in 30 TAC 326.89
- Year-end status of the facility or process
Find details on how to submit your annual report at the Municipal Solid Waste Annual Reporting webpage.
Transfer at Medical Waste Collection Stations
You may also transfer packages of untreated medical waste at medical waste collection stations under the conditions outlined in 30 TAC 326.43(b) . For more information see the Licensed Hospitals Functioning as Collection and Transfer Station section of our Information for Generators of Medical Waste page.
For information on how to respond to a transportation unit malfunction or a traffic accident involving shipments of untreated medical waste, and reporting requirements in those circumstances see in 30 TAC 326.53(b)(18) and (19) .
Manifest
A registered medical waste transporter must provide the owner or operator of an authorized medical waste transfer station a copy of the manifest at the time of unloading of the waste. The manifest must contained the information required in 30 TAC 326.53(b)(8) and (9) and follows the requirements in 30 TAC 326.53(b)(10) . The owner or operator is required to promptly record all manifest and retain it in an operating record see in 30 TAC 326.75(e)(2)(E) .
Contact MSW Permits Section
Contact the MSW Permits Section if you have questions about managing medical waste.