Medical Waste Disposal: Types, Benefits, & Methods

As healthcare activities rapidly increase around the globe, an escalating surge in medical waste generation is inevitable. It is estimated that the USA generates over 5.9 million tons of medical waste annually. Managing such a high volume of waste demands effective and responsible disposal practices. With efficient medical waste management practices, we can mitigate the potential risks of harmful contamination resulting from contaminated waste. In this blog, we will discuss the benefits, methods, and best practices for safe medical waste disposal.

What is Medical Waste?

Medical waste includes all waste materials generated at healthcare facilities like hospitals, doctor’s offices, dental clinics, blood banks, medical research facilities, laboratories, and veterinary clinics. These healthcare facilities generate a large amount of medical waste that is potentially contaminated with infectious microorganisms, posing a high risk of infection. Because of the hazardous potential of medical waste, it is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as state environmental and health departments.

Types of Medical Waste

Medical waste includes a variety of materials, resulting in several types of waste generation. Some of the most common types of medical waste generated by healthcare facilities are:

1. Hazardous Medical Waste

Hazardous medical waste is dangerous and can lead to health risks and environmental damage. It has properties that make it potentially harmful. This type of waste includes liquids, solids, stored gases, cleaning fluids, and pesticides. Manufacturing processes or other commercial activities generally produce this type of waste. One of the most efficient methods of disposing of hazardous medical waste is through incineration.

2. Infectious Medical Waste

Infectious medical waste is waste that is contaminated with pathogens. This includes sharps, gloves, masks, bodily fluids, or any other medical waste exposed to infectious contaminants. The most common disposal method for this type of waste is incineration or autoclaving.

3. Radioactive Medical Waste

Radioactive medical waste is hazardous waste that emits radioactive particles. Radiation procedures and nuclear medicine technologies generate this type of waste. Treatment procedures such as oncology and PET contribute to the production of radioactive waste in hospitals. Radioactive medical waste must be stored in such a way that the radiation will not harm people or the environment, so it must be separated from other waste and carefully sealed. Decay processes and geological disposal are often used to dispose of radioactive waste safely.

4. Sharps

Sharps are any medical by-products that are contaminated and could puncture the skin. Employees who handle sharps are at a greater risk of sharps-related injuries and infection. Therefore, sharps are collected in specially designed, puncture-resistant containers for safe disposal.

5. Pharmaceutical Waste

Pharmaceutical waste includes expired, unused, or left-over medicines from medical procedures. Unregulated pharmaceutical waste poses an environmental threat due to its harmful chemical composition. Therefore, dumping drugs directly into sewers or landfills is strictly prohibited. This type of waste must be treated with a suitable treatment process, such as incineration, before its final disposal.

6. Biomedical Waste

Human and animal healthcare facilities, clinical test laboratories, and vaccine production facilities generate biomedical waste. This type of waste includes anything that has come into contact with a biohazardous material and poses a high risk of spreading contamination. Since it includes a wide variety of materials, segregation must be carried out before proceeding with the disposal process.

7. Pathological Waste

Pathological waste is a by-product of the human or animal body produced as a result of surgery, autopsy, medical research, and culture tests. It includes body tissues, organs, and bodily fluids. This type of waste consists of potential contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, and toxins. Exposure to such waste makes one vulnerable to various diseases, including HIV and hepatitis. Adhering to a compliant disposal process with steps such as waste identification, segregation, labeling, and treatment is crucial for the safe disposal of pathological waste.

Benefits of Properly Disposing of Medical Waste

When you dispose of medical waste properly, you benefit in the following ways:

1. Guarantees Compliance

Following medical waste management guidelines makes you compliant with federal and state-level regulations. Staying compliant will save you from legal consequences and fines and help you establish a reputation as a safe, reliable healthcare provider.

2. Minimizes Environmental Impact

Proper medical waste management practices will help you remain environmentally responsible. It will prevent contaminating agents in the waste from escaping into the surrounding air, soil, or water sources.

3. Protects Patients and Employees

Medical waste contamination can be highly harmful to patients and hospital employees. Adhering to proper waste management guidelines can prevent the transmission of diseases and protect the health of both patients and healthcare professionals.

4. Generates a Positive Influence on Public Health

The large amount of medical waste generated regularly can quickly become a public health concern if not handled correctly. Medical waste management addresses the negative impact of waste contamination on a larger scale. It helps minimize the risks of public health hazards.

5. Enhances Efficiency

Waste management can be a complicated process. However, following the regulatory guidelines enhances operational efficiency and saves time and resources.

Strategies for Proper Disposal of Medical Waste

Cutting down on medical waste generation helps with efficient waste management. It not only helps mitigate the health and environmental risks but also minimizes the cost of waste management. Here are some strategies that can help with proper medical waste management in healthcare facilities:

1. Place proper waste collection containers at every point of generation in the healthcare facility.
2. Label all the containers with signs indicating what type of waste to put in the container.
3. Use separate containers for different types of medical waste collection.
4. Emphasize waste segregation at the point of generation.
5. Conduct an educational training program at least once every year to educate your employees on medical waste management regulations.
6. Be aware of the various steps of the medical waste disposal process to identify any necessary changes in your process.
7. Prepare and implement a proper waste management plan as per the regulations.
8. Frequently inspect the waste management process in your healthcare facility and correct mistakes immediately.

Diseases Caused by Improper Medical Waste Disposal

Healthcare waste is a carrier of numerous deadly infectious pathogens. When disposed of haphazardly, contaminated medical waste leads to the spread of infectious diseases. Here are some common diseases caused by improper disposal of medical waste:

1. Parasitic Infections

Medical waste generated during testing for patients with parasite infections can spread those same parasites to other people. When these infected test samples are disposed of improperly, the parasites can easily transfer to another human who comes into contact with the contaminated waste.

2. Lung Infections

Untreated medical waste containing lung infection-causing viruses, bacteria, or fungi can spread through the air. Some of the common airborne lung infections that can be transferred through improperly disposed medical waste are influenza, pneumonia, and tuberculosis.

3. Skin Infections

Exposure to untreated medical waste can put you at risk of skin infections, including anthrax. If infectious contaminants come into contact with your skin, they can infect you as well. Therefore, employees handling medical waste must put on safety equipment for protection and secure waste containers to prevent leakages.

4. HIV and Hepatitis B and C Viruses

There is a high chance that medical waste contains sharps that have come into contact with HIV and hepatitis patients. HIV and hepatitis viruses can spread from infectious bodily fluids present in waste. If the contaminated sharps pierce your skin, the viruses can pass into your bloodstream and compromise your health.

Medical Waste Disposal Methods

Some commonly used medical waste disposal methods for safe and efficient disposal are:

1. Autoclaving

Autoclaving is a medical waste treatment process that uses steam to disinfect and decontaminate microbiological waste.

2. Chemical disinfection

This treatment method mostly uses chlorine to disinfect waste. Chemical disinfection is applicable for liquid and chemical waste.

3. Microwaving

In the microwaving treatment process, medical waste is disinfected using microwaves. The waste is mixed with water and microwaved for sterilization.

4. Incineration

Incineration is a commonly used treatment method for pharmaceutical, pathological, and chemotherapy waste. In this process, the waste is put in incinerators and burned at extreme temperatures of around 2,000 °F.

How Do Hospitals Dispose of Medical Waste?

The medical waste generated in hospitals undergoes a series of steps before being processed for final disposal. Here is a brief look into the medical waste disposal process in hospitals:

1. Educate Hospital Staff on Medical Waste Regulations

All hospital employees must be familiar with local medical waste disposal regulations to ensure compliance. Hospitals offer various training programs to keep their staff informed.

2. Segregation and Collection of Waste in Specially Designed Containers

Waste must be collected in government-approved containers. Adhering to EPA guidelines, the waste should be segregated according to its type and kept in appropriate containers.

3. Safe Storage of Waste Containers

The waste containers should be kept in a safe place that is only accessible to authorized staff. Hospitals store their labeled waste containers temporarily in a secure and well-ventilated area.

4. Treatment of Medical Waste

Some hospitals perform medical waste treatment processes, such as autoclaving and incineration, within the hospital facility.

5. Final Disposal

For final disposal, hospitals hire disposal service providers. The waste collectors will transport the waste to their facility and proceed with the final disposal process, ensuring compliance with waste regulations. The treated waste is either disposed of in landfills or sewers, depending on the type of waste and state guidelines.

Best Practices for Medical Waste Disposal and Management

These are some of the best practices you can follow for responsible medical waste disposal and management:

1. Conduct regular training and awareness programs.
2. Remain updated with the latest regulatory laws for compliant waste disposal.
3. Implement waste segregation at the source of generation.
4. Use leak-proof and puncture-resistant waste collection containers.
5. Store the waste containers in a well-ventilated area with authorized access only.
6. Ensure safe transportation of the collected waste to prevent spillage.
7. Make sure to carry out suitable treatment processes for different types of waste as per the regulatory guidelines.

Why Choose Specific Waste for Medical Waste Disposal Services?

Here is why choosing our services for your medical waste disposal is the best option for you:

1. We have more than 45 years of experience in the medical waste industry.
2. With decades of experience, we have extensive knowledge of safe disposal methods and guarantee compliance.
3. Our certified medical waste experts carry out our disposal processes.
4. Our service fees are transparent, with no hidden charges.
5. We offer cost-efficient rates for our services without compromising on quality.
6. Our client-specific services ensure 100% customer satisfaction.

Conclusion

Partner with Specific Waste Industries for your medical waste needs and get access to top-quality medical waste disposal services. We are waste removal experts who can take care of all your disposal needs, such as expired hand sanitizer, old fluorescent lamps, and gasoline. Our disposal practices will ensure compliance with all regulations. Contact us today and take a step towards creating a safe community.