Wisconsin medical waste facility receives conditional use permit

The Waunakee, Wisconsin, Plan Commission approved a conditional use permit for a medical waste disposal facility that wants to relocate its operations, a report by The Waunakee Business Tribune says. The company, Medical Environmental Resourcing Inc. (MERI), is owned by three hospitals in Madison and has been operating for 32 years.

According to the report, the facility takes medical waste, such as pharmaceutical, infectious, pathological, chemotherapy, from offices and dental practices. It also accepts nonhazardous wastes such as sharps, needles and syringes. The waste is processed through a microwave, the exhaust is filtered and released back to the facility. Pharmaceutical waste is shipped to a hazardous waste incinerator out of state.

MERI CEO Jim Fitzpatrick says the company is growing out of its 10,000-square-foot facility and plans to build a 25,000-square-foot building in the Waunakee business park. The company has permits with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and is annually inspected. It is also in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). 

The report says the business park does not currently include medical waste services among its uses, thus the need for a conditional use permit. The new site will also need a permit from the DNR.