How Hazardous are Infectious Waste?

There are different types of wastes generated from health care industries. Infectious waste is a common healthcare waste associated with some risks when wrongly disposed of.

What is Infectious Waste?

Infectious waste is produced during health care activities and is contaminated by bodily fluids like blood. Infectious waste can also mean human tissues and body parts, research animal waste, stocks of agents and waste cultures from laboratories, or sharps contaminated by contagious material.

The World Health Organization indicates that up to 15% of all medical waste is a hazardous material that may be toxic, infectious, or radioactive.

Infectious waste can threaten human health when it is improperly sealed, treated, and disposed of. The waste is more likely to carry human pathogenic organisms that may cause human disease.

Management of Infectious Waste

Since infectious waste can pose a potential hazard to human health, there is a need for proper disposal. It is recommended that all infectious waste, except sharps and infectious tissues, and animal carcasses be autoclaved. The waste should be then be placed in red infectious waste bags and sealed, awaiting pick-up by the Department of Environment Health & Safety.

To prevent accidental cuts and punctures, sharps should be segregated and placed in a puncture-resistant container. Once the sharps container is full, you should tightly seal it and put it in an infectious waste disposal box.