The Basics in Managing Medical Waste

Medical waste is special kind of waste generated by medical procedures. It may come from procedures related to diagnostics, preparation and the actual treatment. Medical waste items cannot be classified as domestic waste because it comes from procedures used for sick people, so it’s likely that the end product is laden with infectious microbes or toxic products. This is the primary reason why medical waste is not mixed with domestic waste.

There are several sources of medical waste. By separating and carefully managing medical waste, we can reduce its danger to our health and ecosystem.

Sources of medical waste

Medical waste comes from different sources. Here are some prominent sources of medical waste and notable examples:

• Hospitals and medical centers – waste from medical procedures, pathological waste, etc.
• Doctor’s clinic – waste from medical procedures
• Veterinary centers – waste from medical and laboratory procedures
• Laboratories – waste from medical and laboratory procedures
• Pharmaceutical factories – drug by-products, expired or improperly made drug batches and waste from tests and labs, etc.
• Residential homes – waste from at-home medical procedures, unused or expired medications, etc.
• Slaughterhouses – pathological waste from animals found to be diseased or sick, blood, etc.

Domestic waste vs. Medical waste

Domestic waste, in some ways, also contains infectious bacteria and toxic substances. However, there are significant differences between the two. Here are some of them:

Classification of medical waste

Medical waste is further divided into  several more categories. This is necessary because some items in medical waste are more harmful than others that must be treated and disposed of separately.

Here are some commonly used categories in medical waste:

• Pathological waste – contains tissues or products from humans or animals
• Sharps – waste consisting of sharp and pointed items like syringes, blades and lancets
• Trace chemo – waste containing or coming from chemotherapy drugs which are highly toxic
• Chemo sharps – special category of sharps which came from or were used in chemotherapy, which are highly toxic
• Pharmaceutical waste – waste containing a significant proportion of drugs and drug by-products

Each of these wastes must be stored and disposed of separately from others.

Examples of medical waste

Medical waste comes in various shapes and sizes. Here are some examples of medical waste:

• Used and blood-soaked bandages
• Used or broken laboratory glassware
• Used or discarded latex or nitrile gloves used in surgery and other medical procedures
• Used or broken medical instruments like scalpels, retractors and scissors
• Organ tissues from animals and humans
• Amputated limbs
• Used intravenous tubings
• Used syringes and scalpels
• Samples of secretions or excretions used in laboratory procedures
• Excreta from humans and animals under medical isolation
• Unused, discarded and expired drugs
• Bottles, ampoules and other packaging of drugs
• Tongue depressors, plastic speculums and other disposable items used in diagnostic or medical procedures

Anything that comes from medical procedures is considered medical waste.

Consequences of improperly handled medical waste

If handled or disposed of improperly, medical waste can bring harm to the health of people and animals. Much of this danger is due to microbial and toxic contents of medical waste. That’s why medical waste is separately stored and disposed of from domestic waste.

Medical waste, even when its source is relatively disease-free, is a good environment for infectious microorganisms like bacteria, viruses and fungi that cause disease to humans and animals.

Medical waste, notable pharmaceutical and trace chemo waste contains a substantial amount of toxins that can cause serious illnesses to humans and animals. Some illnesses acquired from toxins include multiple-organ damage, burns and blisters, damage to blood vessels, damage in eyes, hearing and smelling. Very serious cases of toxic poisoning could easily lead to death.

Medical waste, if not sealed properly, can attract disease vectors like vermin and flies which can carry infectious microbes and transfer them to people and animals to make them sick.

Medical waste, if not disposed properly, can also poison food and water to cause disease in humans and animals.

 Handling medical waste

Medical waste is always handled and stored separately from other kinds of waste. Ideally, medical waste must be put into collecting containers as soon as it is formed to reduce harm to others. Sharps, for instance, must be immediately put into puncture resistant containers. Waste containing liquids must be put in containers with absorbent lining to prevent spills. Medical waste is often stored in double containers. Containers for medical waste must have distinctive ‘biohazardous-medical waste’ signs as well.

Workers who handle medical waste must also wear proper equipment. In regulations, waste workers must wear nitrile or latex gloves, lab coats and facemasks whenever they handle or transport medical waste. After working with medical waste and removing gloves, workers must wash their hands well. Waste is not segregated or treated, unlike domestic waste. Recycling is not an option for medical waste.

Storage places, which are often necessary prior to disposal, for medical waste must be secure and appropriate; for example, pathological waste must be stored in cool rooms to delay decomposition of organic tissues. There is also a need for security to prevent others from tampering containers and releasing the waste.

The final destination for medical waste is incineration, which burns waste into less harmful substances. It is the only viable method to prevent harm caused by medical waste. Most incinerators are equipped with sophisticated scrubbers to reduce pollutants in the air. The maximum amount of waste is burned at a single firing to reduce environmental impact.