The Infectious Waste Program regulates generators and transporters of infectious waste in South Carolina as well as facilities that treat infectious waste.

In South Carolina, there are approximately 9000 registered generators of infectious waste, 30 registered transporters of infectious waste, and 2 registered treatment facilities for infectious waste.

What is Infectious Waste?

Also known as medical or biohazardous waste, infectious waste is material that was used in healthcare, research or postmortem exams. It includes:

How should infectious waste be packaged and stored?

• Sharps must be placed in rigid, leak- and puncture-resistant containers secured tightly.

This report looks at the estimated amounts of infectious waste generated in the state in the past and offers an estimate of the amount of waste that may be generated in the state in the next year.

What is the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)?

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) is a federal law enacted the Environmental Protection Agency in 1976 that established a regulatory system to track hazardous wastes from the point of generation to disposal. It established a “cradle to grave” process for management of hazardous waste (spent oil, cleaning agents, pesticides, etc.). The law requires the use of safe and secure procedures in treating, transporting, storing, and disposing of hazardous wastes.

• South Carolina Hazardous Waste Management Act
• South Carolina Pollution Control Act
• Regulation 61-79, Hazardous Waste Management Regulations
  • 61-79.124, Permit Administration

• Permits active treatment, storage and disposal facilities
• Guides clean-up actions for thousands of waste management units
• Provides regulatory concurrence to the regulated community and their consultants in Hazardous Waste Management
• Develops South Carolina's Hazardous Waste Management Regulations and seeks authorization from EPA for the State prog

S.C. Department Of Revenue (SCDOR)

SCDOR issues registrations and collects taxes from dry cleaners operating in the state. Please call 1-844-898-8542 for assistance.

S.C. Small Business Assistance Program (SCSBAP)

• South Carolina Hazardous Waste Management Act 
  • See Article 4, DRYCLEANING FACILITY RESTORATION TRUST FUND
• Regulation 61-33, Drycleaning Facility Restoration

Many dry cleaning sites have environmental contamination because of minor leaks and spills of dry cleaning solvents or process wastes. Some leaks occur from containers of solvent or waste stored outside of the dry cleaning plants; however, many problems result from small drips of solvent on the floors inside the dry cleaning operation. Many of these solvent releases occur on a daily basis during normal dry cleaning operations.

Dry Cleaning Facility Restoration Trust Fund