The Best Method to Recycle Medical Waste
9/29/2022
Healthcare activities naturally generate a lot of waste. However, you might not have known that only a fifth of all hospital waste is considered biohazardous. The number might seem small, but this still translates to approximately 1,070,477,990 kg of biohazard waste every year.
1. Autoclaving
This is the use of a heated container to get rid of biohazard waste. Autoclaving is the most commonly used method of disposing of this type of medical waste. As a matter of fact, around 90% of all biohazard waste is processed at approximately 2,400 medical waste incinerators across the country.
2. Encapsulation
As the name suggests, sharps are biohazard waste that may puncture or tear the container and may spread infection. This category includes scalpels and syringes. They must be encapsulated in durable labeled containers and left in a designated spot before they are disposed of at a landfill.
3. Chemical Disinfection
There are certain kinds of biohazard waste that may be chemically disinfected. Among other things, this is common for solid animal wastes. They are eventually brought to a landfill to avoid spreading infection.
End Notes
Every year, hospitals and laboratories produce a lot of hazardous medical waste. It is their responsibility to get rid of them effectively and safely. These three methods should be employed to prevent the spread of disease in a community.