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Solid and Liquid Medical Waste: Where Do They Go?

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Medical waste treatment differs from one facility to another, depending on the imposed standards of their state. This is why the stages and processes can also vary from one another. However, if you are wondering where solid and liquid medical waste goes, here is a general overview of the medical waste management process. 


Collection

  

Once gloves, syringes, blood bags, dextrose, and other medical items are used, they are placed in a secure container. These containers are thick so that they cannot be easily punctured and torn. They are also movable so that they can easily be transported. 

Also, medical wastes are segregated. The sharp wastes are usually placed in a Stericycle container. Operating Room wastes are also separated as these are commonly the most hazardous wastes. 

  

For liquid medical waste, they are placed in a suction canister. These canisters can mechanically be cleaned and disinfected so that it can be reused. This way, it causes a lesser impact on the environment.

The initial collection process of medical waste disposal is done onsite through this. Once it becomes full, medical waste disposal companies come to collect them. 



Medical Waste Disposal Facilities

Once the medical waste is collected, there are then transported to medical waste facilities. Medical waste facilities have various methods on how they decontaminate medical waste. Some of them are the following:  


  • Autoclave
  • Incineration
  • Chemical Agents


  • Post-Decontamination

      

    After the medical waste undergoes decontamination and disinfection, medical waste facilities deal with them according to what are the standards of their state. Often, if there is a landfill available near them, thats where they will end up. However, for states such as New York that does not have their own, the by-products are transported elsewhere.