Medical facilities of all kinds, including hospitals and clinics, produce a lot of different forms of waste every single year. Sometimes, it’s everyday trash like tissues and shredded paper. However, healthcare centers also generate plenty of hazardous and medical waste.
Understanding the distinction between hazardous and biohazardous waste is vital for protecting your health and the environment. Since each type of waste has different protocols for handling this means you need to know the difference to meet existing regulations.
What is Hazardous Waste?
Hazardous waste doesn’t belong in a landfill. Whoever picks up the garbage each week isn’t going to take any hazardous waste you set out by the curb. You also can’t leave the waste sitting around. You’re placing everyone’s health at risk who comes in contact with your garbage. Not to mention what it may be doing to the surrounding environment.
Some hazardous waste like poisons can seep into the groundwater affecting almost everyone nearby. If you’re not sure what’s classified as hazardous waste, here are some common examples:
- Metals that can rust and corrosives
- Fluorescent light bulbs
- Pesticides, herbicides
- Chemicals and paints
- Batteries with mercury
- Industrial by-product
- Poisons and medications
This list may not be complete, so it’s best to check local ordinances. You can also contact the landfill for a complete list of what’s considered hazardous waste.
How to Store and Dispose of Hazardous Waste
You probably already know you can’t throw away bottles of medication. Most healthcare facilities have established practices for how to dispose of medications per state and federal laws. After all, you don’t want someone digging through the trash hoping to score some prescription medication. So, what do you do with hazardous waste you can’t seal up in a garbage bag?
Instead of using garbage bags, you’re going to need some waterproof and airtight containers. Fill the container with the hazardous waste, though keep the weight under five gallons. Anything over 5 gallons may not be accepted at the disposal facility. All containers must also be labeled. So, if you’re tossing away fluorescent bulbs, the container should be labeled accordingly.
Not sure who to contact to pick up or accept your drop-off? Look for a registered hazardous waste facility. There’s usually at least one in every city. If you’re in a more rural area, you may need to take a bit of a longer drive.
What is Bio-Hazardous Waste?
Bio-hazardous waste is typically produced by medical facilities and is often contaminated. Bodily fluids and blood are often present, along with germs and bacteria that can cause infections.
To help ensure everyone from medical staff to patients are protected, all bio-hazardous waste must be carefully disposed of. This means medical centers can’t rely on their neighborhood trash pickup service. This applies even if the bio-hazardous waste is sealed in airtight and waterproof containers. Failing to follow all disposal procedures can result in hefty fines and other penalties.
Some examples of medical waste include the following:
- Pathological waste contaminated with human body fluids like blood, saliva
- Needles from injections
- Animal waste
- Lab waste like specimens, blood vials, and culture dishes
- Mortuary waste
This list isn’t complete, it’s only serving as an example, so check with local state laws before tossing anything in the trash.
How to Dispose of BioHazardous Waste
The steps for disposing of medical waste are pretty similar to how you get rid of hazardous refuse. You’re going to need airtight and waterproof containers. Keep the weight under 5 gallons to help ensure the facility accepts your bio-hazardous waste. You’re also going to need to label each container with its contents.
To meet current industry regulations, medical facilities can’t keep bio-hazardous waste on-site for more than seven days. This means you can’t devote a storage area for your medical center’s bio-hazardous waste. However, there is an exception. If a medical center generates less than twenty pounds of bio-hazardous waste in a month, you can store the trash for up to 30 days.
However, you’re still required to keep all bio-hazardous waste separate from your medical center’s ‘normal’ trash.
Protecting Yourself, Others, and the Environment
Getting rid of hazardous and biohazardous waste can be a bit of a pain. After all, you can’t toss everything in a garbage can and set it out for regular trash pickup. Everything must be kept separate, stored in sealed containers, and disposed of at the proper facility.
Even though this process can be incredibly time-consuming and comes at a cost, it’s worth the effort when you know that you’re doing everything in your ability to protect yourself, others, and the environment as a whole.
