Medical waste from hospitals, clinics, and dental offices must be disposed of properly to avoid contamination and disease spread. Four primary services include incineration, steam sterilization, on-site disposal into the sewer system, and off-site handling. Incineration is common for pathological waste, while steam sterilization is used for contaminated surgical tools. Liquid waste can be treated and released into the sewage system, while professional off-site disposal companies handle large quantities of waste through incineration or secure landfill burial.
Medical waste is an unfortunate by-product of running a hospital, doctor’s office, dental office or medical clinic. Various body fluids, solids and surgical instruments must be disposed of in a specific way, so as not to contaminate the environment or spread disease. There are four primary medical waste services that manage the waste range of these institutions. Incineration, steam sterilization, on-site disposal into the sewer system, and off-site handling take care of specific types of waste.
Incineration is one of the most common and oldest forms of medical waste services available to the medical community. This service is performed on the premises of a large medical facility, such as a hospital, or managed by a medical waste management company. A medical waste incinerator is a large furnace that reaches such a high temperature that all germs, microbes and bacteria are destroyed along with the physical object that enters the fire. Commonly, incineration is reserved for pathological waste, such as body parts and organs, because there are few other ways to safely dispose of these items.
Steam sterilization is another method of dealing with medical waste that almost all institutions handle themselves. These medical waste services are often implemented to counteract microorganisms and contaminated surgical tools. Steam sterilization consists of placing the infected objects inside a large metal container that closes hermetically. Inside the container, steam and heat are applied, not unlike a pressure cooker, and harmful agents are neutralized by the high temperature. In the case of medical instruments, these items are actually safe to reuse.
Many medical waste by-products are not very hazardous and can be reintroduced into the general public waste system. Liquid waste, such as blood and human fluids, is chemically treated and released into the sewage system for further treatment at a wastewater treatment plant. These medical waste services are usually performed by the medical facility because the process is relatively simple and the level of danger is low.
Finally, many complex medical waste services are performed by professional off-site disposal companies. These organizations specialize in dealing with waste cleanly and professionally. Often, these companies process large quantities of waste that medical institutions cannot handle, such as blood and human remains. These service providers have several methods at their disposal to eliminate these potentially harmful elements. Large-scale incineration is one option these companies provide, and another is to securely seal and bury the waste in secure landfills.
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