News > Med Waste Application

Hazardous or Non-hazardous Waste?

There has been a lot happening in our county especially with high school football in full swing and the 27th Radiothon Fundraiser for Blount County Education Foundation and the county fair taking place this month. But, what really has the county a-buzz are the conversations about the Medical Waste Disposal Facility proposed to set up business in the Remlap area in South Blount County.

Citizens of Blount County became concerned after the Harvest Medical Waste Facility application was submitted by the owner to the Blount County Commission (BCC) in August. At the commission meeting October 2nd 09:00, we should find out if BCC determines with a “yes” or “no” vote if Blount County has more to gain (a little tax revenue and a few jobs) than the risks of allowing medical waste to be transported, stored, and treated especially next to a creek and in a flood zone.

Concerned citizens filled the BCC meeting room, over flow room, and down the hall at the county court house at the commission meeting when the public was invited to make their comments about the med waste facility. I was told that was the most people ever to show up for a public comment hosted by the county commission. Surely that public outcry had an impact on all the county commissioner’s opinion. Surely!

The Blount County Solid Waste Board will hear public comments… your comments… September 18th at 10:00 in commission chambers and afterwards make their recommendation to the BCC.

Blount County’s solid waste management plan does not address medical waste generation, handling, treatment and disposal of such waste. Question: Is medical waste hazardous or non-hazardous waste?

Some of the waste to be processed is not hazardous, but not all. I saw for myself, the receptacles to be picked up at health related facilities marked with the international symbol identifying the contents as biohazardous waste. The locked wall mounted waste receptacle is filled with needles, tweezers, syringes, etc. referred to as “sharps.” A trash can with a red trash bag inserted, labeled “bio-hazardous waste,” is for wound dressings, protective gloves, surgical sutures, and other non-sharp medical waste. It is confusing since the source of the medical waste to be processed is deemed bio-hazardous, but the application for the proposed facility is allowed to identify all the waste as non-hazardous.

Think about it. A used syringe itself is not described as a bio-hazard according to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. However, the residual contents in the syringe could be deemed a biohazard since it could pose a hazard or potential hazard to human health. I bet a resident downstream of the proposed facility that finds a used syringe on the Gurley Creek bank would declare it hazardous waste. I think you would as well.

I promise next month this column will get back to sharing fun happenings in and around Blount County especially the beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities. Blount County – Awesome By Nature. Let’s keep it that way!

Remarks to Blount County Solid Waste Board, Sept. 18, 2025

Good morning. I’m Sam Howell with the Friends of the Locust Fork River.

I’m sure you have made yourselves familiar with previous public comments regarding the Harvest Medical Waste Disposal facility My concern is the location of the business on Gurley Creek in a flood plain and the possibility of an accident waiting to happen in the event of catastrophic flooding. I also question the medical waste description used in the permit application.

Some of the waste to be processed is indeed not hazardous as the permit app identifies, but not all. The waste receptacles to be picked up at health related facilities are marked with the international symbol identifying the contents as biohazardous waste. The locked wall mounted box is filled with needles, tweezers, syringes, etc. referred to as “sharps.” A trash can with a red trash bag liner labeled “bio-hazardous waste” is for medical waste other than “sharps.” The waste description in the app seems to be inaccurate since the source of the medical waste to be processed is deemed bio-hazardous, but the application for the proposed facility refers to the waste handled as non-hazardous.

Granted, Alabama Department of Environmental Management regarding transportation of medical waste doesn’t deem a used syringe itself as hazardous waste, but the residual contents may be deemed hazardous to human health. It seems to me if it is bio-hazardous waste at the hospital, it would be bio-hazardous waste once it arrives at the disposal facility. I bet a resident downstream of the proposed facility that finds a used syringe on the Gurley Creek bank would declare it hazardous waste. I think everybody in this room would also.

Your vote lets the public know the benefits for the county (a little tax revenue and a few jobs) outweigh the risks of allowing medical waste to be transported, stored, and treated in your county especially next to a creek and in a flood zone. Please do the right thing for the people of Blount County and vote NO.

Sincerely,
Sam Howell, FLFR

[Sam prepared this statement for the Solid Waste Board hearing, but was not able to share because comments were not allowed at the hearing.]

Remarks to Blount County Commission, Sept. 4, 2025

Good morning gentlemen. I am Sam Howell. I appreciate the opportunity to comment on the proposed medical waste facility on behalf of Friends of the Locust Fork River.

Legal record confirms the medical waste’s facility’s permit was amended to include site location on the bank of Gurley Creek and in a FEMA-recognized 100-year flood plain. The permit reviewer now knows the facility is in a venerable location that’s potentially detrimental to a pristine part of the Locust Fork River Basin.

Yes, some of the waste being processed is not hazardous, but not all. The receptacles to be picked up at medical facilities are marked with the international symbol identifying such contents as biohazardous waste. The locked wall mounted waste receptacle is filled with needles, tweezers, syringes, etc. referred to as “sharps.” A trash can with a red trash bag inserted, labeled “bio-hazardous waste,” is for wound dressings, protective gloves, surgical sutures, and other non-sharp medical waste. The application should be at the least amended to increase bio-hazard material handling to be more accurate so not to appear deceiving.

Pollution of any kind could poison critical habitat for the creek’s namesake Gurley Darter. Its possible flooding could penetrate the facility and cause the release of untreated hazardous material. Then finds its way to a major tributary on the Locust Fork, Gurley Creek that’s just feet away from the site. Toxic pollution released during a vulnerable phase of the disposal process would wipe out the threatened species found only in Gurley Creek according to published studies by Yale University biologist. More importantly, the Locust Fork Watershed is home to two federally endangered species — Flatten Musk Turtle and Black Warrior Waterdog Salamander. Unprecedented catastrophic flooding does happen more and more as we all have seen on TV and social media.

There are reasons several sites in Jefferson County did not work out for the Harvest Medical Waste Disposal LLC. There is a reason the entrepreneur is now trying to locate in our county… seemingly a path of least resistance. Please cast your vote of “NO” to deny the application for permit. Thank you.

Comments humbly submitted by Sam Howell, Conservation Chair, Friends of the Locust Fork River