Medical waste is broadly classified as any item that comes into contact with body fluids. Specifically, it is any solid waste generated in the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of humans. This type of waste was collected in special bags and plastic boxes in clinical settings and then disposed of like normal trash. However, this process was quickly found to spread diseases and viruses and potentially cause outbreaks.
Today, the medical waste disposal services use red biohazardous containers and bags seen throughout hospitals and doctors’ offices to safely remove sharps, needles, and IV catheters containing any human blood or bodily fluid. Medical waste also includes paper towels, wipes, gloves, syringes without needles, bandages or dressings with small amounts of dry blood or fluid, and any other material from medical care. In addition, syringes with needles or sharp objects that can pierce through a plastic bag require a special storage container for additional protection.
Medical waste is any waste that contains infectious material. This definition includes waste generated by healthcare facilities like physician’s offices, hospitals, dental practices, laboratories, medical research facilities, and veterinary clinics. This includes:
- Anything that is soaked in blood (gloves, gauze, gowns, etc.)
- Human or animal tissues created during procedures
- Cultures of infectious diseases or agents
- Any waste produced in patient’s rooms with communicable diseases
- Discarded vaccines
Medical waste can contain bodily fluids like blood or other contaminants. Examples are culture dishes, glassware, bandages, gloves, discarded sharps like needles or scalpels, swabs, and tissue.
Medical waste disposal services provide two types of medical waste treatment methods, these are:
On-Site Medical Waste Treatment
The on-site treatment of medical waste is generally limited to large, well-monied hospitals and facilities. On-site treatment is extremely cost-prohibitive. That’s because the required equipment is expensive to buy, maintain, and manage and run. The regulatory maze around such equipment and its use present yet another barrier to entry.
Off-site Medical Waste Treatment
Off-site medical waste treatment is a far more cost-effective option for most small and mid-sized medical practices and facilities. Third-party vendors whose main business is healthcare waste collection and disposal have the equipment and training needed to handle the process. Vendors can collect the waste either by truck or by mail.
- Truck services require a contract with a specially licensed disposal company to haul the waste away for regular destruction. The waste is hauled in special containers to a dedicated disposal facility.
- Mail or box services use the Postal Service to ship the waste safely to a facility for treatment. This is generally the most cost-effective of all the methods. It requires a vendor fully versed and experienced in all special Postal Service regulations and best practices.
Healthcare workers can avoid most medical waste problems by adhering to a few key best practices. Employees should know the laws, then classify and separate all waste by type into the correct, color-coded waste containers. Waste should be labeled depending on its category, and the right documentation should accompany all containers during transit. A dependable medical waste disposal service can help a facility put these best practices to work.
- Know the healthcare waste laws.
- Classify medical waste correctly.
- Separate the waste by type.
- Use the right medical waste containers.
- Prepare the containers properly.
- Prepare the containers properly.
- Include the right documentation.
- Use the medical waste disposal color code.
- Hire the right medical waste disposal services.
Unless it’s managed properly, medical waste can present several health hazards to healthcare employees, waste workers, and the general public. For example, discarded needles can expose us to needle sticks and possible infection if they’re accidentally sent to recycling facilities or containers break open in transit. Housekeepers and janitors are also at risk when sharps poke their way out through plastic bags.
Medical waste is classified as any possibly contaminated byproduct of medical research, treatment, or other healthcare activity. It can come from physician’s offices, dentists, veterinary clinics, research laboratories, or funeral homes. So medical waste disposal services are needed in the medical workspace as it helps you create a safe environment for all medical workers.
