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Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) introduced legislation over the weekend that would authorize the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement a nationwide uniform tracking system and outline appropriate handling, disposal and treatment of medical waste.
Last month, hundreds of intravenous needles, along with cotton swabs and pill casings, were found on the beaches in Avalon, Ocean City, Sea Isle City and Strathmere, New Jersey causing sections of those beaches to close for several days. The incident reminded many residents in the state's coastal communities of the summer of 1988, when thousands of beach-going days were lost due to medical waste dumping on the shore. It was estimated that the New Jersey tourism industry lost $1 billion that summer.
Since then, New Jersey has taken the lead on this issue and enacted stringent medical waste laws. However, federal legislation is needed to address the nationwide medical waste problem that continues to affect our nation's shores, lakes and rivers. Pallone's Medical Waste Management Act will ensure consistency within the law and discourage interstate dumping.
"We need to do everything we can to prevent medical waste from being dumped in our waterways," Pallone said. "New Jersey can not afford to have its beaches closed for days at a time. Medical waste significantly poses a health risk for our beachgoers, pollution on our pristine beaches and a threat to the state's tourism industry. This legislation brings clarity and consistency to a medical waste process that today is left to the states. A nationwide law is necessary to keep our beaches clean."
The New Jersey congressman's proposed legislation would require a cradle-to-grave tracking system of all forms of medical waste and would implement registration to all generators of waste. The bill puts into place regulations for smooth compliance for hospitals, health clinics and other medical waste generators.
Pallone also believes that strong civil and criminal enforcement is necessary to prevent medical waste dumping on our beaches. The bill would grant appropriate government officials authority to investigate these crimes and give them the necessary resources to take swift action.
The legislation would also establish a syringe disposal program to educate the public about acceptable methods for disposal of used syringes generated by individuals. It would also provide grants for state and local governments, non-profit organizations and private entities to increase access to disposal methods.
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