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How Do You Treat Medical Waste?

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The methods used for medical waste treatment depend on the location and size of the facility's medical waste generators. Small facilities, like dental clinics or a tattoo parlor, may have fewer options than a large hospital.

Common Options for Medical Waste Treatment

Here are the most common methods used for the treatment of medical waste:

1.    Chemical treatment
This saves the facility from transportation and packaging. The process works by deactivating and decontaminating the liquid wastes. It utilizes chemicals, including calcium oxide, chlorine, and sodium hydroxide.
2.    Incineration
The process is done in an incinerator that handles the controlled burning of medical waste. The equipment's size depends on local regulations, the amount of waste, and the size of the facility.
3.    Microwave treatment
It utilizes heat in decontaminating medical waste. This is best applied in wastes that are not completely dry or solid medical wastes.
4.    Irradiation
This is rarely used due to high costs and numerous regulatory requirements. It makes use of gamma irradiation or other technology to deal with biomedical waste.

Final Notes

Any health facility must know how to dispose of medical waste properly. Improper disposal may result in health risks to those exposed and sanctions for the facilities involved.