The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is launching an investigation after blood and possible human tissue were found at a metro garbage hauling site.
Workers at the Ramsey Recycling and Energy Center in Newport recently reported the waste.
Workers at the Ramsey Recycling and Energy Center in Newport recently reported the waste. The material found including IV tubes with blood in them, suction canisters from surgical centers and what appeared to be human intestines.
This comes after previous similar reports dating back several years since the facility opened in 1987.
Infectious waste is handled in a different way than hazardous waste, which poses an environmental danger due to its chemical risk. Infectious waste is regulated in Minnesota by the MPCA.
The state has seven facilities around the state where this type of material is supposed to be processed. Those are in Rochester, Winona, Foreston, Duluth, Shakopee, Eagan and Cloquet. They also have certified vendors who carry the waste.
A spokesman for the MPCA told WCCO Radio that the investigation is ongoing and they could not provide more information at this time.
MPCA did provide the following:
"This is an ongoing investigation. The MPCA regulates infectious waste and proper disposal is essential for the protection of human health and the environment. Infectious waste must be handled properly due to its biological risk. MPCA investigates improper disposal and has infectious waste guidance for waste generators including a list of approved infectious waste disposal vendors."