Did your Wisconsin company generate and ship 50 pounds or more of infectious waste during any calendar month of 2020? If so, it is time to file your WI DNR Infectious Waste Report.
March 1, 2021 is the usually the deadline to submit it – but it has now been extended to March 12, 2021
To help determine if you need to file, refer to this WI DNR infectious waste link.
The Infectious Waste Off-Site Treatment report is the first of the annual two-part electronic document within the WI DNR annual Infectious Waste Report. Only hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes should complete the second part of the annual filing, which is also known as the medical waste reduction progress report.
MERI’s Genesis Can Help When Reporting
MERI’s Genesis customer portal is handy when pulling infectious waste numbers your report. You can download everything from the number of pickups to pounds processed by waste type.
You can access Genesis through MERI’s home page customer portal by using your user name and password. If needed, we can help reset this for you.
This video is a quick tutorial about the various features of MERI’s Genesis e-manifest software:
Covid May Change Numbers
With Covid this past year, the DNR recognizes that operations and waste streams look different. Infectious waste information at some facilities may have changed from past years.
If your facility temporarily closed in 2020, but still generated 50 pounds or more of infectious waste during any 2020 calendar month, you still need to complete the report.
If your facility closing means that you are now exempt, but you filed in 2019, you should report your new exempt status. This will help the DNR to maintain accurate records.
Non-healthcare facilities that only generated infectious waste from the emergency response of COVID-19 are exempt from reporting requirements. They do not need to access the report.
Other Report Changes
Other changes to note for this year’s report:
- The definition of “signatory” has been updated to “Must be the highest-ranking official (i.e., facility administrator or manager) or official’s designee, as determined by the facility.”
- Input fields for the off-site treatment facility question in Section B have been modified for ease of use.
- Digital signature service is now available to replace the process of signing and submitting a paper signature page.
Email from the DNR
If you did not receive the automated email from the WI DNR, and your facility operated as a small or large quantity generator at any point in 2020, email DNRMedicalWaste@wisconsin.gov. They’ll send you a Web Access Management System (WAMS) ID. You’ll need this to prepare and submit your report.
If there has been a change of contact at your facility, go to the DNR’s Update contact/facility info tab. Also, be sure to add the WI DNR to your safe sender’s list so that important emails from them don’t end up in your spam file.
Subchapter P Hazardous Waste Notification
Wisconsin healthcare facilities that are small and large quantity hazardous waste generators should have already received an email from the WI DNR about the hazardous waste annual report due March 1.
For this report, you must count hazardous waste pharmaceuticals generated from Jan. 1, 2020 – Aug. 31, 2020. Chapter NR 666, Subchapter P was adopted in Wisconsin on September 1, 2020. It provides for streamlined management of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals while protecting human health and the environment.
If you have any questions regarding this report or need assistance with Subchapter P notification, email: DNRHazardousWasteReporting@wisconsin.gov
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