Texas environmental officials have fined two women's health clinics and an Illinois waste disposal company they contracted for improperly disposing of fetuses in a landfill.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality ordered fines Wednesday of $22,980 and $17,430 for the Whole Woman's Health clinics in Austin and McAllen, respectively.

Stericycle, an Illinois-based international medical waste disposal company used by both clinics, was fined $42,612.

TCEQ documents indicate the clinics changed waste disposal companies and have been in compliance since May. The clinics' violations lasted three years before officials investigated last year following a complaint.

Texas regulations require the disposal of fetuses in specific ways. Stericycle's first step of "steam disinfection" was allowed, but then regulations require the waste be buried, not dumped in a municipal solid waste landfill.