Medical waste disposal is crucial to our society as it prevents the spread of disease, reduces exposure risks to healthcare workers, and protects the environment. The United States generates about 3.5 million tons of medical waste each year, which makes it very important to dispose of the waste effectively and securely.
The medical waste economy handles the waste generated by healthcare facilities, which generate approximately 6,600 metric tons of medical waste every day from hospitals, medical clinics, surgery centers, emergency rooms, and labs. In fact, this makes healthcare the second-largest industry creating landfill waste, trailing only to the food industry, which generates roughly 164,000 metric tons of waste every day. Every patient interaction can result in several pounds of waste that can accumulate to millions of tons of waste each year.
Sharps management is a critical component of medical waste disposal. Offices, clinics, and businesses that administer injectable medications are legally responsible for managing sharps correctly, as improper disposal can result in costly fines amounting to $13,652 per violation. Some businesses can even face more than $49 million in settlement and legal fees. Beyond the financial consequences, improper disposal causes serious safety hazards, increasing the likelihood of exposure to employees and patients. Each year, about 385,000 needlestick/sharps injuries are reported by healthcare workers in the United States.
Additionally, procedures such as cosmetic surgeries produce an excessive amount of carbon dioxide emissions, mainly due to disposable supplies derived from fossil fuels and the use of anesthetic agents that produce greenhouse gases. Rhinoplasties alone produced about 6 million kilograms of carbon dioxide in 2020, which is equivalent to 6,000 cross-country car trips from Los Angeles to Boston.
Although “medical waste” may seem like a straightforward concept, there are multiple types that are generated every day. Medical waste can range from common medical waste that are placed in red sharps containers or red waste bags and trace chemotherapy waste that are placed in yellow sharps containers or yellow waste bags to pathological waste disposed in red waste bags and pharmaceutical waste that is disposed in DEA pail or mail-back only or pharmaceutical containers.
More specifically, sharps waste include needles, syringes, scalpels, and broken glass. More hazardous substances include cleaning fluids and sterilant, mercury, and blood. Controlled substances like opioids, morphine, and methadone are disposed of as medical waste when they are unused or partially used. Unused or expired pharmaceuticals can also become medical waste, such as prescription and over-the-counter warfarin, oxycodone, barbiturates, NSAIDs, and antibiotics. Trace chemotherapeutic waste that go in yellow waste bags include drug-dispensing devices, IV bags, and drugs.
In the United States, 15% of medical waste is considered hazardous as they can spread infections or are toxic and radioactive. These biohazardous and infectious materials are classified as regulated medical waste and encompass several categories, such as pathological, isolation, and contaminated animal waste. These different categories add layers of complexity when it comes to handling waste safely.
It is important to dispose of medical waste properly as it helps protect the people. Most waste ends up in either a landfill or a waste-to-energy facility. There are two methods of processing hazardous waste specifically: steam autoclave or incineration. With steam autoclave, moisture, heat, and pressure are used to inactivate microorganisms that can cause health issues. Incineration involves burning waste in a controlled environment.
People can also produce medical waste at home, which is harder to regulate. Unused medications, battery-containing medical devices, and needles and sharps can be produced at home, 95% of which are disposed of inappropriately. Although options can vary by state, there are several ways people can dispose of their at-home medical waste safely. For pharmaceuticals, people can use mail-back envelopes or employ drug takeback programs. Sharps should be given dedicated biohazard containers or gathered on community pickup days. Medical devices can be donated to hospitals and vet offices or be professionally shredded and recycled.
For the safety of the general public and the environment, businesses that produce medical waste should obtain the proper red and yellow disposal bags as well as provide clear labeling on all containers. Proper documentation like waste manifestation and tracking forms is also an important element so nothing is missed. Handling waste safely with puncture-resistant sharps containers and personal protective equipment is crucial in order to not spread diseases while storing waste in places with clear signage is essential.
For businesses that generate medical waste, working with a qualified disposal provider can ensure secure processing, minimize risk, and reduce energy costs, benefiting the public and the economy as a whole.
Source: Amergy Disposal
