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Medical Waste Management

Medical Waste Disposal Information

Medical Waste Disposal

Go Green Solutions, LLC – We are here to better help you understand medical waste disposal. Also, we want you to understand what the average costs are as well as how it is categorized. Lastly, we want you to see how it relates to OSHA, and why you need compliance training such as sharps safety and blood borne pathogens.

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So, what is Medical Waste Disposal?

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, medical waste is classified as “a subset of wastes generated at healthcare facilities.” These facilities include hospitals, physicians’ offices, dental practices, blood banks, and veterinary hospitals/clinics. In addition, they may include medical research facilities and laboratories.

To summarize, it is typically any waste that is generated by a healthcare facility in which may be contaminated by blood, body fluids, or and other possibly infectious materials. The term usually used to refer to this type of waste is “Regulated Medical Waste” or “RMW” for short.

Continuing, we have to learn a bit more about the Medical Waste Tracking Act and why it expired.

So, let’s start at the beginning. Medical waste, or RMW, was regulated by the state and environmental health departments. Because of the act expiring in 1991, they were not in charge at this time in regards to medical waste. 

Continuing, before any practice disposes of medical waste, it is pertinent that the state environment program and state health agency is contacted. Therefore, we have provided the links to the right of this article.

Finally, there are federal agencies in which have medical waste regulations. According to the EPA, they are as follows:

  • Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
  • Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • Potentially Others

click here to read the full article

Who is in Charge of Regulating Medical Waste?

The Treatment & Disposal Of Medical Waste

The Importance Of Proper Disposal Of Sharps (Medical Needles) According To The EPA

To continue, Medical Waste is unfortunately disposed of improperly every day due to companies just not knowing the guidelines. Either this or they just don’t take them seriously. Consequently, many people are at risk for needle sticks and other potentially infectious diseases. Therefore, it is important to know that having a proper sharps container can act as a preventative. It can prevent serious injury or sickness as well as serious OSHA fines.

So, who’s at risk? Well, honestly anyone that works in the medical industry. Hence why Compliance Training is so important! So, from the doctor to the janitor, anyone who is around sharps that have been disposed of improperly are at risk.

For more information on compliance training, including sharps safety, click the button below.

 

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Did you know the average cost of medical waste disposal has gone down tremendously?Considering this, we have a specific formula to offer the best savings possible. Call us today, or click below to make the switch!

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Medical Waste Incineration

Furthermore, before 1997, most of the possibly infectious waste was indeed incinerated. However, eventually the EPA stepped in and changed the regulations due to increasing concerns over “detrimental air quality affecting human health” according to the EPA.

To read more about EPA’s Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards click here and for the full article, click here.

Because of this, there have been several alternatives to the treatment of medical waste disposal. According to the EPA, they are as follows:

  • Thermal treatment, such as microwave technologies; 
  • Steam sterilization, such as autoclaving; 
  • Electropyrolysis; and 
  • Chemical mechanical systems, among others.

There are many states that require the documentation of either certification, licensing, or regulation for medical waste treatment. 

Check With Your State

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See Some Additional Resources From The EPA Below