Waste management officials for Ramsey and Washington counties said Monday that multiple medical facilities are improperly sending infectious waste to its recycling facility.
Ramsey/Washington Recycling and Energy said in a news release that sending infectious waste to municipal waste facilities violates state law and poses health and safety risks for workers.
“The frequency of these incidents has created significant hazards, emotional strain and increased operational costs,” Mary Jo McGuire, a Ramsey County commissioner and board chair of the municipal facility, said in a statement. “Our shared priority must be protecting staff safety while maintaining compliance with all standards.”
The infectious waste that has been sent to the facility includes blood-soaked bandages,body parts and vials containing bodily fluids, the release said. It did not name any medical facilities.
The waste has been sent to a recycling center in Newport where items are processed to generate electricity and keep waste out of landfills. The problem has slowed operations, the release said.
Ramsey/Washington Recycling and Energy is working with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Minnesota Department of Health, waste haulers and the medical clinics to resolve the issue.
