Lakeview Memorial Hospital in Stillwater has been fined $15,862 by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for
improperly disposing of infectious waste.
According to the MPCA, a waste management facility rejected a load of waste from the hospital because it appeared to contain infectious waste.
The facility notified the MPCA, which determined that the load contained infectious waste including liquid blood and other items contaminated with blood.
The facility brought in a contractor to separate out the infectious waste and send it to a facility that specializes in disposal of infectious waste.
An MPCA investigation showed that the hospital failed to separate, label, and properly store its untreated infectious waste before sending it to the waste management facility.
Under Minnesota law, all untreated infectious waste must be separated, properly labeled, and transported in a way that prevents release or harm to human health.
In addition to paying the fine, the hospital has agreed to properly dispose of untreated infectious waste in the future. The hospital has also submitted a detailed plan to prevent similar incidents.
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