What is the clinical waste disposal process like? Medical waste is generated from a variety of sources, including medical facilities, spas, tattoo parlors, veterinarians, healthcare providers and laboratories. Medical waste disposal is necessary because it may spread pathogens to humans, animals or the environment. The goal of medical waste disposal is to prevent the spread of disease from these materials. However, many people don’t know what the process looks like and how it works. This article explains everything you need to know about medical waste disposal.

What is clinical waste?

Typically, clinical waste is waste that can be contaminated with blood, body fluids or other potentially infectious substances, and is often referred to as infectious waste, biohazard waste, controlled clinical waste, biomedical waste and sharps waste.

Why is disposal important?

The main objective of medical waste disposal is to prevent the transmission of pathogens through these materials. Medical waste can transmit infectious diseases to humans and animals. They also pose a potential threat to the environment if they are not treated in a way that prevents harm. These materials can include non-biodegradable plastics, meaning they will be around for a long time if not handled properly.

What is the clinical waste disposal process like?

The first step in the medical waste treatment process is to identify the waste. When the container is full, the clinical waste is properly sorted and moved to the next stage, i.e. storage. Storage areas of the facility should be carefully selected so that waste containers do not come into contact with any other products and are inaccessible to the public. The area shall be clearly marked with biohazard symbols and shall be accessible only by authorized personnel.

Containers should be stored where they can not be knocked down or spilled. Secure storage areas and protect them in a location from theft, vandalism, accidental exposure of people or animals, rain, water and wind. Keep storage areas clean and well ventilated so they do not become breeding grounds for insects or rodents and do not generate harmful odors.

The medical waste disposal provider will have a specific pickup date/time and will be equipped with a vehicle specifically designed for medical waste disposal and will safely remove medical waste from your facility.

Types of treatment and disposal of medical waste

Once the medical waste Disposal company removes the waste from the facility, each container will be treated and/or disposed of according to the type of medical waste to ensure complete and complete decontamination. Some types of treatment include:

Autoclave: a combination of high temperature and pressure to destroy medical waste.

Irradiance: Exposure to gamma rays that are deadly to viruses and bacteria.

Chemical treatment: also known as biological or enzymatic treatment: chemical disinfectants that render medical waste harmless.

Microwave treatment: microwave disinfection only works if there is water in the waste. Because the radiation acts directly on the water, not the solid component of the waste.

Once medical waste is treated properly, it is purified and harmless. Any residue can be shredded, recycled, safely placed in a landfill or all of the above.