Stericycle & Medical Waste Incineration in North Carolina
"First, do no harm"

Stop Incineration: Stericycle Should Convert to Non-Incineration Alternatives NEW: BREDL issues report on statewide medical waste incineration “Medical Waste in NC: The need to reduce incineration by more effective waste segregation and use of nonincineration technologies” Stericycle Medical Waste Incinerator Outcome of Permit Renewal Hearing    Stericycle Permit as sent to the EPA for approval    Post Hearing Permit Review    Directors Rec. Memo based on May 2010 Public Hearing Officers Report    Public Hearing Officer's Report for Stericycle    Air Permit Review prior to the public hearing Environmental Management Commission (EMC) Actions to Adopt the Stricter EPA Standards The Division of Air Quality held a public hearing 9/7/2010 on the state's incorporation of the 2009 EPA rules for hospital medical waste incinerators. The EMC has now voted on the Hearing Officer's recommendations. Key points are: 1.) Stericycle and BMWNC incinerators must come into compliance with the new EPA rules by July 1, 2013 (earlier than the 10/6/2014 final deadline) and, 2.) There is no exemption for bypass emissions. Hearing Officer's EMC Agenda Report Hearing Officer's Overview of the New Rules The entire proceedings of the EMC Hearing & Comment Period (450 pages) BACKGROUND INFORMATION UNDERSTANDING THE NEW EPA RULES Stricter EPA Standards vs. Current | Federal Register: EPA Rules October 6, 2009 16 Local government units have chosen to pass a resolution for the EMC to adopt EPA rules by 2012 not 2014 Mecklenburg County; Orange County; Chatham County; Union County; Durham County; Carrboro Town Council; Town of Haw River; City of Mebane; Town of Hillsborough; Town of Chapel Hill; Town of Green Level; Town of Stallings; Town of Gibsonville; Town of Swepsonville; City of Durham Key Videos Dioxin, Stericycle in NC, Alternatives to Incineration ITEMS RELATED TO THE STERICYCLE PERMIT RENEWAL Stericycle FAQ | BREDL and HRA Support These Points Good Overview of Stericycle Issues | Medical Waste Incinerator Pollutants Toxic Bullseye Map PUBLIC HEARING COMMENTS ON STERICYCLE'S PERMIT BREDL 5-25-2010 | Health Care Without Harm NC Div.Air Quality:Draft Permit for Stericycle | NC Div.Air Quality:Draft Review of Permit for Stericycle | Follow IN THE NEWS Photo: Stericycle medical waste incinerators, Haw River, NC

Stericycle, Inc. operates the largest medical waste incinerators in North Carolina. Their two incinerators burn 21-27 million pounds a year. Medical waste from more than a third of the United States is trucked into Haw River in any given year. Our air, our lungs, our environment are being polluted. Stericycle needs to stop polluting North Carolina air. They have an alternative: re-direct their customers to Stericycle's own non-incineration technologies.

Hospitals generate the majority of this medical waste that pollutes the air that North Carolinians breathe. Yet 90% or more of this waste could be safely diverted from incineration. Alternative treatment technologies are available and approved by regulatory agencies. These technologies (eg, autoclave, chemical/mechanical treatments) provide a much healthier alternative to incineration.

Our health care facilities can become stewards for preventive health and the environment when they use environmentally responsible waste management practices. They should switch to non-incineration technologies for all medical waste not required by law or regulation to be burned. Only then will they adhere to the adage, "First, do no harm."

This problem needs a solution now. That solution will come from community members, like you, who challenge Stericycle to act with corporate responsibility and promote safer, non-incineration alternatives. It will come from concerned health care facilities who reduce their waste incineration to the minimum amount necessary.