Medical waste includes biological, solid, liquid, anatomical, pharmaceutical, chemotherapy, and sharps waste, each with its own disposal codes. Biohazardous waste requires labeling and proper containment, while solid waste is steam sterilized and disposed of like regular trash. Liquid waste is decontaminated and sent through specialized drains. Anatomical remains are incinerated on site, while chemotherapy and radioactive waste are disposed of separately. Sharps waste requires special care and should be incinerated or placed in leak-proof containers. Special facilities are available for waste that cannot be treated on site.
Medical waste refers to any material produced in a medical environment as a result of treatment, diagnostics, testing and any other activity performed there. There are several main types of medical waste: biological, solid, liquid, anatomical, pharmaceutical, chemotherapy and sharps waste. Each of these follow their own distinct medical waste disposal codes.
Biohazardous waste includes almost anything that has come in contact with a patient’s body and thus been exposed to bodily fluids and disease, if any. This can include things like human excrement, tissue samples, or used swabs and bandages. Proper medical waste disposal for biohazardous materials requires that they be placed in a labeled bag and then sealed. Then, the bag should be placed in a leak-proof container and labeled on all sides as biohazardous.
Solid waste is usually steam sterilized and then disposed of in the same way as any other trash or waste. This type of medical waste consists of things like gloves, unsoiled paper gowns, and empty containers. Liquid waste requires a different type of medical waste disposal. Blood, urine and other thin or nearly thin materials must be decontaminated using an agent such as chlorine and then sent through the sewage system through specialized drains where they will be further treated with all other wastewater.
Another type of medical waste involves the disposal of any human anatomical remains. This does not include the deceased, but refers to things like organs, tissue matter, or limbs removed. These things have to be incinerated, usually on site.
Chemotherapy waste is disposed of separately and must be labeled as CHEMO waste. Radioactive waste is chemically treated and then transported to specialized facilities. There is also pharmaceutical waste that needs to be disposed of, usually by placing it in a cardboard box taped shut and then thrown in with your regular solid waste.
Disposal of medical waste also requires containment of sharps waste. This includes things like needles, syringes and blades used during surgery. Because these items can potentially be contaminated with diseases that could be transferred to others, special care is taken in their disposal. Used sharps waste should be placed in a puncture- and leak-proof container and incinerated. Unused sharps waste is taped up and thrown into a regular garbage bag.
For waste that cannot be treated on site, special facilities are available that collect and transfer the waste for correct disposal. This waste can include biohazardous and anatomical waste, as well as used sharps waste. In the event that a hospital does not have an incinerator on site, these items will be placed in leak and puncture proof containers and transported to the appropriate facilities.
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