What Medical Waste is not Suitable for Public Disposal
12/5/2022
Every healthcare facility should have suitable mechanisms in place to separate medical waste from all the other waste streams at the source.
The risks posed by improperly segregating medical waste from public waste affect not only humans, but also domestic pets, local wildlife, and the ecosystem.
In this article, we will talk about the kinds of medical waste that need to be segregated.
1. Radioactive waste
Cancer therapy and medical equipment that uses radioactive isotopes can produce radioactive waste. Most hospitals, as well as some doctors' offices that provide brachytherapy, also emit radioactive waste.
2. Infectious waste
This garbage is also known as biowaste or biomedical material. Many waste streams in this category, such as human tissue, blood-soaked bandages, and discarded surgical gloves, might also be classified as pathological waste, necessitating specialized treatment.
3. Hazardous waste
Hazardous waste is defined as waste that has the potential to harm humans in non-infectious ways. Some hazardous material can also be deemed infectious waste, depending on its source and prior contact with human or animal tissue.
Medical waste disposal processes help to safeguard not only people but also the environment. To reduce contamination when working with medical waste, basic waste management system concepts must be followed.
All biomedical waste has the potential to risk human health and harm the environment. Improper disposal of biomedical waste in landfills has the chance of transmitting parasites and bacterial illnesses to stray animals, which can then spread across animal populations.
The risks posed by improperly segregating medical waste from public waste affect not only humans, but also domestic pets, local wildlife, and the ecosystem.
In this article, we will talk about the kinds of medical waste that need to be segregated.
1. Radioactive waste
Cancer therapy and medical equipment that uses radioactive isotopes can produce radioactive waste. Most hospitals, as well as some doctors' offices that provide brachytherapy, also emit radioactive waste.
2. Infectious waste
This garbage is also known as biowaste or biomedical material. Many waste streams in this category, such as human tissue, blood-soaked bandages, and discarded surgical gloves, might also be classified as pathological waste, necessitating specialized treatment.
3. Hazardous waste
Hazardous waste is defined as waste that has the potential to harm humans in non-infectious ways. Some hazardous material can also be deemed infectious waste, depending on its source and prior contact with human or animal tissue.
Key Takeaway
All biomedical waste has the potential to risk human health and harm the environment. Improper disposal of biomedical waste in landfills has the chance of transmitting parasites and bacterial illnesses to stray animals, which can then spread across animal populations.