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What Happens to Biodegradable Hospital Waste?

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Hospitals produce massive volumes of garbage. The World Health Organization calculates that high-income societies generate up to 0.5 kg of toxic waste per hospital bed every day, which could be infectious, poisonous, or radioactive.Some of these hospital wastes are classified as biodegradable. Simply speaking, biodegradable waste is any item that can be degraded naturally. This is called decomposition, and the main mechanisms are bacteria or other tiny organisms.

Incineration

Approximately 90% of medical waste can be incinerated. To appropriately manage biodegradable garbage, the procedure simply includes burning waste at extremely high temperatures, which can reach up to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Autoclaving

This method employs high-pressure steam and compression via autoclaving equipment. Initially, medical waste is sterilized in the equipment to eradicate any signs of microorganisms. Waste bags are typically subjected to high-pressure treatment for a set period of time to ensure maximum elimination of any pollutants.Chemical DisinfectionTo disinfect medical waste, this method employs chemical agents such as chlorine. Medical facilities that use chemical methods should evaluate several criteria, including the type of microorganisms present in the waste, the level of contamination, and the kind of treatment used.

Final thoughts

Because hospitals are such enormous establishments with complex operations and human processes, waste operations are frequently disorganized and underfunded. Hospital garbage is also one of the most complicated waste streams in any sector, and it is produced in massive quantities.

Hospital waste management is critical for protecting personnel and patients from infection or injuries. Aside from the apparent threat that biological waste poses to disease transmission, medical waste management is critical for healthcare facilities as well.