B.M.C. fined for improper waste disposal
State environmental officials have fined the Boston hospital almost $39,000 for improperly disposing of medical waste.
The state Department of Environmental Protection said in a statement Wednesday that Boston Medical Center was sending the waste to a disposal facility in the city last year that was not licensed to accept or handle it.
The waste included partially filled blood bags and material marked "biohazard." Agency officials say the waste posed a potential public health risk.
The hospital said in a statement it has already made changes to the way it deals with medical waste, including a new storage area, regular inspections and retraining of staff. In exchange, the state suspended almost $13,000 of the penalty.
