Any solid waste that is generated in the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals, in research pertaining thereto, or in the production or testing of biologicals. Since the development of disposable medical products in the early 1960s, the issue of medical waste has confronted hospitals and regulators. Previously, reusable products included items such as linen, syringes, and bandages; they were sterilized or disinfected prior to reuse, and the principal waste product was limited to human pathological tissue.