The United States generates around 3.5 tons of medical waste each year. Understanding the disposal process for medical waste is useful, and ensuring an efficient system is key moving forward.
Healthcare facilities such as hospitals, surgery centers and emergency rooms generate 6,600 metric tons of waste each day, making the healthcare industry the second largest contributor to landfill waste behind the food industry.
There are many types of medical waste, and each category requires a different disposal method. The main categories are regular trash, common medical waste, trace chemotherapy waste, pathological waste and pharmaceutical waste. Certain materials require careful disposal, such as sharps, hazardous substances, unused or expired pharmaceuticals and controlled substances. Roughly 15% of medical waste is considered hazardous, either because it is infectious, radioactive or toxic.
In order to properly dispose of waste, healthcare facilities need certain items and systems in place. Proper disposal bins are vital, as is accurate documentation. Medical facilities also need safety equipment, such as spill cleanup kits. Partnering with medical waste disposal companies also ensures secure transport and disposal of waste.
The healthcare industry generates a massive amount of waste. Taking careful safety precautions is important due to the dangerous nature of some of this waste. Additionally, striving for efficiency is important to ensure the medical system continues to function smoothly and safely.
Source: Amergy Disposal
