NJ A3958

New Jersey Department of Health and Department of Environmental Protection must jointly identify and develop best practices for medical waste management at hospitals and medical offices that promote public health and environmental stewardship.

All licensed hospitals and medical offices must develop written medical waste management plans based on the state-developed best practices, including guidelines for personal protective equipment use, waste sorting methods with clear visuals and signage, and instructions for identifying and sorting waste at the point of generation.

Hospitals and medical offices must provide employee training on implementation of their medical waste management plans where necessary for compliance.

Medical waste covered under the bill includes solid waste generated in diagnosis, treatment, immunization, research, biologicals production/testing, or home self-care, but excludes hazardous waste under federal regulations.

The bill takes effect 180 days after enactment.