The Nation - News from Aug. 24, 1988

The New York state Assembly gave final legislative approval to a measure that would stiffen penalties for those caught illegally dumping infectious medical wastes. The bill, which passed 142 to 0 without debate, also provides more money for enforcement and needs only the signature of Gov. Mario M. Cuomo to become law. It’s designed to stem the flow of medical debris that washed ashore on several New York City and Long Island beaches, closing them to bathers on some of the hottest days of the year. The bill would provide penalties of up to 10 years in jail and fines of $100,000 for people convicted of disposing of “red bag” wastes, so named because the waste is required to be thrown out in marked containers.