Examples of Regular Medical Waste
5/9/2023
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that about 85% of medical waste generated by healthcare facilities is non-hazardous or also known as regular waste. So, what is considered regular medical waste?
Below is a brief overview to help you understand what regular medical waste is.
Regular Medical Waste Defined
Regular medical waste is non-infectious materials that do not present a physical, radioactive, chemical, or biological risk to the community. Sometimes it is called offensive waste since it may not be hazardous but is very unpleasant to deal with.
Sources of Regular Medical Waste
Regular medical waste is produced in various types of healthcare facilities. It is a typical by-product of daily operations that are generated via regular kinds of treatment and care services. Here are some of the most common sources of regular medical waste:
Non-infectious medical waste is produced when patients receive care or treatment. Let us say for instance, a healthcare personnel must wear Protective Personal Equipment or PPE during medical consultations and there is a need to change between seeing patients to promote hygiene and ensure the safety of everyone.
Care homes generate a large volume of clinical non-hazardous waste when caring for their residents. An example of waste from this facility is used incontinence pads.
Children or babies produce a huge amount of offensive waste, like diapers and pads. It might not be infectious but it is quite challenging to deal with.
Regular medical waste may not be a serious risk to everyone. However, properly disposing of it would still be very crucial in maintaining the health and wellness of everyone.