Where Do You Throw Away Medical Gloves?

Medical gloves are one of the most necessary equipment when handling medical procedures. Not only does the medical personnel protect the patients contamination, but they also prevent the spread of anything that’s potentially infectious. As the personnel proceeds to the next step of the medical procedure, the gloves worn beforehand might need to be disposed of. The question is, where?

Used medical gloves must be disposed of properly under any circumstances. After all, they are utilized in medical procedures and are considered in the same category of waste as syringes and band-aids. It is important to keep such medical wastes away from regular waste, wherein the latter usually goes to the landfill.

If the gloves are not tainted with chemicals or body fluids like blood, saliva, or excrement, then it can be safe to throw them in a regular trash bin for non-biodegradable materials. But, if they are tainted even just by a drop, you better throw them in trash bins labeled as hazardous or depending on the regulations of the medical facility.

If somehow there are no existing or available trash bins for hazardous materials in the surrounding area, it will be necessary to make or assign one before a medical procedure is performed. To do that, you can choose any trash bin, preferably similar to the others in the facility, and lay it in a trash bag. Afterward, label the bin with a sticker that indicates the hazard.

Improper throwing of medical gloves is a violation of health codes and practices. Not only it is unsanitary, but it is also potentially dangerous to the people around.