Minnesota Hospital Hit with Hefty Fine for Infectious Waste Violation
“When companies do not fully comply with regulatory requirements, the resulting pollution can be harmful to people and the environment,”
St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has leveled a six-figure fine against one of the state’s largest hospitals.
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Officials say the violation occurred last year and involved infectious waste. Along with paying the fine, the hospital also has completed multiple corrective actions.
“When companies do not fully comply with regulatory requirements, the resulting pollution can be harmful to people and the environment,” and MPCA news release says.
Regions Hospital in St. Paul Fined $100K for Infectious Waste Disposal Violations
Regions Hospital in St. Paul was fined $100,000 for improperly disposing of infectious waste.
The MPCA says the hospital disposed of liquid blood and liquids contaminated with liquid blood in syringes, tubing, plastic bags, suction canisters, and laboratory collection tubes at a waste-to-energy site last year.
Officials say the infectious waste was sent to the improper facility multiple times. Staff at the disposal site spotted the infectious waste and notified the MPCA.
A contractor then responded to separate the waste and to get it sent to a proper disposal facility, the news release says. Regions has since ceased disposing of infectious waste with mixed municipal solid waste.
The hospital also reviewed and revised its infectious waste management procedures to ensure the discarded materials stay separated from other waste and gets sent to the proper destination, the MPCA says.
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