A small clinic or a tiny diagnostic center generates as much waste as a huge hospital or research laboratory. The challenge is to dispose of it as quickly as possible so that there is no spread of infection. Sure, there are multiple safety standards that one must take care to note but trying to tackle everything without proper guidance or assistance is going to be impossible. Authorities recommend hiring a service provider refuted for smooth and hassle-free medical waste disposal from inside the facility.
While it is best to adhere to the strict regulations and adopt the accepted safety standards for disposal of medical and hazardous waste, trying to do it your way will not only jeopardize your facility but you may also be penalized with repeat violations leading to the closure of the facility.
Surely you do not want that! The first approach to comply with both the federal and State regulations would be to educate yourself about the dos and don’ts. While you can always request assistance from a professional team adept at such disposals, you would have to ensure that the contaminated waste materials are stored in designated containers and kept away from the public and staff of the facility.
Segregation of the waste materials according to categories is all-important. Besides, you have to ensure that the waste goes into the right color containers that are neatly labeled for instant recognition as well. Yes! You have to have the disposal team ready to transfer the containers to the designated spot for final disposal. However, infectious material can wreak havoc if thrown directly into the landfill. It is important to treat them to eliminate the associated risks and render them safe enough to be deposited in the landfill.
Effective Treatments Related to Medical Waste Disposal
- Autoclave– Steam is used to decontaminate the materials generated as waste in a health care facility or laboratory. It is the most widely used method to render hazardous materials safe. The harmful microorganisms are eliminated by the perfect use of steam and high pressure. While the major facilities are equipped with their autoclave machines, the smaller units depend on the disposal team to do the needful.
- Chemical Disinfection– Certain biohazards generated as wastes may be treated with strong chemicals for complete disinfection. The material is disposed of by adding it to the nearest landfill.
- Pyrolysis– This procedure renders the waste materials safe and useful by altering the components of the organic compounds. It is a type of recycling process where there is no wastage of precious space within a landfill with the environment and natural resources remaining untainted too.
Incineration destroys the material completely leaving no trace at all. It is the accepted method for medical waste disposal when the waste is highly toxic or contains chemicals harmful to human health. Radioactive waste generated after radiotherapy or cytotoxic waste during chemotherapy is destroyed by incineration.
