Medical Waste Disposal Guide 2021
3/4/2021
Medical wastes are wastes from science or medical sectors, and these come in various types. Based on a 2018 study, the United States alone disposes of medical wastes not less than 5.9 million tons every year. This number excludes all other wastes from other sectors because this only refers to the wastes that come from hospitals. Meaning, it doesn't include the ones produced by vets, pharmacies, home care, and dental care.
These are wastes that contain at least one of the descriptions below:
● Petri dishes that are filled with viruses and bacteria cultures
● A hospital clothing that is drenched, soaked, or has blood
● Clothing or any disposable fabric that a patient uses.
● Test tubes containing bodily fluids such as urine, blood, any types of secretions, mucus, semen, and synovial fluid)
● Test tubes containing vaccines that have been discarded
● Tissues from humans or animals
As mentioned earlier, there are various kinds of medical wastes.
● Pharmaceutical wastes- these are the expired antibiotics, pills, or any drugs that should no longer be sold. This also refers to expired vaccines.
● Infectious wastes- these refer to the hospital wastes that may contain infectious diseases.
● Radioactive wastes- these refer to those wastes that come from the liquid produced by radiotherapy.
● Blood products- these refer to wasted plasma, blood, and serum.
● Isolate wastes - the wastes that come from hospital patients who were intentionally isolated for others' safety due to their contagious disease.
● Contaminated needles- these sharp objects or needles used for medical operations to scratch or pierce the human skin. Thus, these needles or sharp objects should be immediately disposed of properly.
Final Words
How to classify medical wastes?
● Petri dishes that are filled with viruses and bacteria cultures
● A hospital clothing that is drenched, soaked, or has blood
● Clothing or any disposable fabric that a patient uses.
● Test tubes containing bodily fluids such as urine, blood, any types of secretions, mucus, semen, and synovial fluid)
● Test tubes containing vaccines that have been discarded
● Tissues from humans or animals
What are the kinds of medical wastes?
● Pharmaceutical wastes- these are the expired antibiotics, pills, or any drugs that should no longer be sold. This also refers to expired vaccines.
● Infectious wastes- these refer to the hospital wastes that may contain infectious diseases.
● Radioactive wastes- these refer to those wastes that come from the liquid produced by radiotherapy.
● Blood products- these refer to wasted plasma, blood, and serum.
● Isolate wastes - the wastes that come from hospital patients who were intentionally isolated for others' safety due to their contagious disease.
● Contaminated needles- these sharp objects or needles used for medical operations to scratch or pierce the human skin. Thus, these needles or sharp objects should be immediately disposed of properly.
● Pathological wastes- these refer to a contaminated animal or human body.
These are the basics you need to learn about medical wastes. Simply put, these wastes should be disposed of properly and immediately to avoid harming other individuals that may come in contact with those. In medical premises, proper segregation should be strictly imposed rather than merely advised.