Medical waste in simple terms is any item that comes into contact with body fluids. Potentially these items can be sharps, needles, wipes, paper towels, gloves, syringes without needles, bandages, and catheters with small amounts of dry blood or fluid.
According to a recent study in the United States, every person produces 13 lbs. of medical waste per year. The major sources of this medical waste are hospitals, veterinary clinics, and tattoo & body piercing parlors.
Previously, this medical waste was disposed of like normal trash in bags and plastic boxes. However, this process steered the spread of various diseases and viruses.
Today, medical waste disposal companies have evolved various processes to properly dispose of such hazardous material. These processes are substantially efficient and ensure public safety.
Here are 5 processes used to effectively dispose of medical waste –
Incineration
Incineration is the process of burning specific pathological and pharmaceutical wastes. High thermal temperature transforms medical wastes into the inorganic and incombustible matter. This method is considered the safest and most effective method for treating medical waste as it significantly reduces the volume and weight of the waste by simultaneously preventing harm to public health.
Autoclaving
Autoclaves are used to dispose of waste medical equipment such as surgical knives, sharps, and clamps. The closed chamber of an autoclave applies heat and pressure on the equipment to destroy harmful microorganisms. The operating temperature of an autoclave is usually 250 to 280 degrees F. The whole process of autoclaving is chemical-free, which is appealing to many stakeholders in the waste management business.
Irradiation
The process of irradiation involves exposing waste medical equipment to gamma rays to kill fatal bacteria. The radiation source used is the radioactive isotope of cobalt. This method is used only to dispose of and sterilize medical equipment and is not recommended for pathological wastes. Gamma radiations not only kill harmful microbes but also break down various chemicals.
Chemical Decontamination
Chemical agents such as chlorine are used for disinfecting liquid medical wastes. Before exposing the liquid waste to a chemical agent, its grinding is necessary. It guarantees sufficient exposure of chemical agents to every part of the waste, which assists in easy disposal of any residues. After disinfection, the resulting liquids are passed to the sewer system.
On-Site Destruction
On-site treatment of medical waste is usually done by using disposal equipment, which offers efficient and independent treatment of biohazardous waste. It helps in saving the cost of transportation, which is higher in off-site treatment. Both solid and liquid wastes, including sharp objects, are converted in just a single cycle. With zero dangerous emissions, these machines are simple and safe to use.
Conclusion
No matter what type of medical waste you are producing, it is especially important to dispose of and eliminate it. Taking hazardous waste lightly will potentially harm workers’ health and jeopardize public safety.
Several medical waste disposal companies can help you with managing and disposing of dangerous waste in compliance with government and industry standards.
Take your time to sort, contain, and dispose of your medical waste with the help of a reputed medical waste disposal company safely and legally.