Medical waste is a subset of wastes generated at health care facilities, such as hospitals, physicians' offices, dental practices, blood banks, and veterinary hospitals/clinics, as well as medical research facilities and laboratories. Generally, medical waste is healthcare waste that that may be contaminated by blood, body fluids or other potentially infectious materials and is often referred to as regulated medical waste. 

As is the case for all waste, the best practices for managing it start at the point of generation, when waste is produced. In order to collect waste, one must first be familiar with what to collect exactly, since there each category of medical waste needs to be separated from the other types. In practice, this means using the right containers. These are usually color coded to help biomedical waste segregation.

Improper management of discarded needles and other sharps can pose a health risk to the public and waste workers. For example, discarded needles may expose waste workers to potential needle stick injuries and potential infection when containers break open inside garbage trucks or needles are mistakenly sent to recycling facilities. Janitors and housekeepers also risk injury if loose sharps poke through plastic garbage bags. Used needles can transmit serious diseases, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis.

Potential alternatives to incineration of medical waste include the following: 

• Thermal treatment, such as microwave technologies; 
• Steam sterilization, such as autoclaving; 
• Electropyrolysis; and 
• Chemical mechanical systems, among others.

With EPA's tighter HMIWI standards, the number of HMIWIs in the United States has declined since 1997. This has lead to an increase in the use of alternative technologies for treating medical waste. The alternative treatments are generally used to render the medical waste non-infectious then the waste can be disposed of as solid waste in landfills or incinerators. Many states have regulations requiring medical waste treatment technologies to be certified, licensed or regulated.

• Disposal of mercury-containing devices such as fluorescent bulbs and mercury thermometers in the trash
• Failure to identify all waste materials and determine if they are hazardous or non-hazardous waste, and dispose of accordingly
• Failure to label containers accumulating hazardous waste with the words “Hazardous Waste”
• Failure to maintain signed copies of hazardous waste manifests for three years Failure to train employees that manage hazardous waste at least annually to respond to hazardous waste emergencies
• Failure to conduct and document weekly inspections of all areas where hazardous waste is being accumulated
• Failure to post emergency contact information at phones near the hazardous waste accumulation areas
• Failure to pay annual hazardous waste fees (LQG and SQG only)
• Failure to document arrangements with the local fire department, police department 

Medical waste is broadly classified as any item that comes into contact with body fluids. Specifically, it is any solid waste that is generated in the diagnosis, treatment or immunization of humans. This type of waste was once collected in special bags and plastic boxes in clinical settings and then disposed of like normal trash. However, this process was quickly found to spread diseases and viruses and potentially cause outbreaks.

Today, the red biohazardous containers and bags seen throughout hospitals and doctors’ offices are used to safely remove sharps, needles, and IV catheters that contain any human blood or bodily fluid. Medical waste also includes paper towels, wipes, gloves, syringes without needles, bandages or dressings with small amounts of dry blood or fluid, and any other material from medical care. Syringes with needles or sharp objects that can pierce through a plastic bag require a special storage container for additional protection.

It is important to understand the distinction between anatomical and pathological waste. While both are wastes derived from the human body, pathological wastes are unique in that these are typically samples of tissues that are examined in a laboratory setting to understand the nature of the disease or affliction from which a patient suffers. For the most part, pathological waste refers to very small tissues sections and body material derived from biopsies or surgical procedures that are then examined in the lab. Anatomical wastes are typically distinguished as recognizable human organs, tissue and body parts, and may require special treatment under some state regulations.