Dive Brief:

• The National Waste & Recycling Association (NW&RA) announces it is working directly with government agencies to create procedures for the removal and treatment of medical waste originating from those diagnosed with Ebola.
• The NW&RA is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to develop guidelines to properly dispose of the infectious materials.
• The PHMSA issued a “guidance document” to aid haulers in understanding packaging, handling and transportation of Ebola waste. Waste firms can apply for “non-site specific” special permits that guarantee all entities involved have the ability to safely handle Category A waste; Ebola is considered a Category A infectious substance. 

Dive Insight:

The NW&RA has established multiple resources for members and other parties to uncover more information regarding Ebola. The organization will brief members that handle medical waste during the week, and will answer questions that arise. A “facts” page has also been developed that addresses general questions dealing with the transportation and disposal of Ebola waste.  The group will also host a webinar Thursday. The topic covered will be managing healthcare waste during an Ebola outbreak. The lack of standard procedures and general uncertainty surrounding Ebola has resulted in confusion among haulers, and a refusal to haul contaminated waste accumulating at hospitals and elsewhere.