Monday, Oct. 20, 2025

Does Reworld, which seeks to burn untreated medical waste at their Tulsa plant, have a history of legal issues in other states?

yes

Reworld, which applied for a permit modification in order to burn untreated regulated medical waste at their Tulsa plant in March 2025, was found to be in violation of state environmental laws in New York, Pennsylvania, and Oregon, and faced civil penalties and lawsuits in other states including California and Indiana.

Reworld faced air quality and emission violations in Pennsylvania, Oregon, and California, and permit violations related to the handling of waste in New York and Indiana, resulting in payments totalling more than $1 million.

Reworld Tulsa’s permit modification would allow it to burn up to 40,000 tons of medical waste per year. Medical waste would be limited to non-hazardous regulated medical waste, including surgical waste, sharp objects, renal dialysis waste, and expired vaccines.

Though Reworld states that burning medical waste is safe, locals’ concerns over health seem substantiated by at least one study, which found negative effects on human health and the environment.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

Oklahoma Environmental Quality Tier-III-Draft-Permit-Modification
New York State - Department of Environmental Conservation DEC Orders Reworld Hempstead to Pay $878,500 in Penalties and Environmental Benefit Funds
PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION CONSENT ASSESSMENT OF CIVIL PENALTY
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Notice of Civil Penalty Assessment and Order Case No. AQ/V-WR-2024-022
California Air Resources Board SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT Case No. 2018-25181-H
Reworld Waste Proposed Reworld Tulsa Facility Regulated Medical Waste Project Frequently Asked Questions
The Oklahoma Eagle Tulsans push back on Reworld’s plan to burn medical waste
National Library of Medicine The impact of incinerators on human health and environment

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Does Reworld, which seeks to burn untreated medical waste at their Tulsa plant, have a history of legal issues in other states?

Sources

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