4 Best Practices for Medical Waste Disposal

Hospital patients produce about 6 million tonnes of waste annually in the U.S. alone. In addition to this, the US healthcare sector generates the most pollution out of any national healthcare sector. The proper disposal of medical waste requires awareness and implementation of best practices to ensure the safety of patients, healthcare workers, and the environment. Implementation of the best practices ensures the safe and effective disposal of medical waste.  

Understanding Medical Waste Disposal

To ensure proper disposal of medical waste, detailed identification and proper segregation of these waste types are vital to prevent cross-contamination. Medical waste can come from hospitals, clinics, diagnostic labs, dental clinics, veterinary facilities, and even from at-home care for patients with chronic conditions.

Medical waste includes a wide range of materials that are produced during healthcare activities. 

According to WHO, 85% of medical waste is considered general and non-hazardous waste, which is comparable to domestic waste. The remaining 15% is said to be hazardous material, which is infectious, radioactive, carcinogenic, corrosive, flammable, reactive, or chemical. Similarly, approximately 16 billion injections are administered worldwide, but among them, many needles and syringes are not disposed of properly.

Proper management and disposal of medical waste requires attention and diligence to avoid any adverse health outcomes associated with poor practices in the process of disposal. According to WHO, medical waste is classified into the following types:

• Infectious waste: Any waste that has been infected with blood or other biological materials, such as urine or saliva

• Sharps waste: Needles, scalpels, and other sharp objects that can pierce the skin

• Pathological waste: Tissues, organs, and fluids from humans or animals

• Pharmaceutical waste: Unused or expired medications or vaccines

• Chemical waste: Solvents, disinfectants, and lab reagents

• Cytotoxic waste: Waste that can harm healthy cells

• Radioactive waste: Material from radiation treatments or medical imaging 

• Non-hazardous waste: Waste that does not pose biological, radioactive, chemical, or physical dangers. 

Risks Associated With Improper Medical Waste Disposal

In 2010, unsafe injections caused approximately 33,800 new HIV infections, 1.7 million hepatitis B infections, and 315,000 hepatitis C infections.  So, there is no doubt in the fact that failing to handle medical waste correctly does not just violate rules but can also have serious and long-term consequences. 

Below is a more detailed outlook on the risks associated with improper medical waste disposal:

Health Hazards: Incorrect disposal heightens the chances of infections among healthcare employees, janitors, waste handlers, and the public. Accidental injuries caused by unsafe needle disposal can transmit serious diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Contact with bodily fluids or contaminated waste also risks bacterial or viral infections, particularly in under-resourced communities. 

Community Exposure: In regions that have insufficient medical waste management practices, open dumps can expose children, animals, and scavengers directly to infectious waste. In some countries with weak enforcement, cases of syringes being reused from contaminated batches put many at risk. 

Environmental Pollution: Improper dumping methods can also cause soil and water contamination through pathogens and chemicals. Incineration without adequate filters is known to release dioxins and heavy metals into the atmosphere, which leads to long-term environmental devastation and serious risks to surrounding communities. 

Legal and Regulatory Penalties: Fines by regulatory bodies like OSHA, the EPA, and state health departments are also severe for failing to comply with medical waste regulations. Exposure that causes harm might also lead to lawsuits, and violations can deteriorate public trust. 

Best Practices for Safe Medical Waste Disposal

Effective Waste Segregation

The first step towards safe waste management is disposing of the waste correctly in specific color-coded bins with clear signage. This can help to identify the type of waste, making it easier for staff to sort waste into the correct color-coded bins. The following are the color codes that represent each type of waste: 

• Red bags or bins: Infectious waste
• Yellow bins: Chemical or cytotoxic waste
• Black bins: Pharmaceutical waste
• Blue or white bins: Commonly used for non-hazardous recyclable materials

Proper segregation prevents cross-contamination of waste whilst reducing the cost of treatment and ensuring compliance with local medical waste disposal guidelines. Staff must be trained to always dispose of waste based on these categories.

Staff Training and Awareness

No disposal system will work without trained personnel. Even the best staff need to be trained in the procedures surrounding medical waste disposal, PPE use, emergency spill response, and regulatory updates. Good training programs need to include: 

• Updates on state and federal regulations
• Role-specific instructions (janitors, nurses, lab technicians)
• Checklists for proper disposal
• Procedures for reporting incidents

Well-trained teams can help mitigate accidents, avoid fines, and protect people within and outside healthcare facilities. 

Proper Storage and Handling Procedures 

Medical waste needs to be kept in secure and labeled containers in well-ventilated areas. The area of disposal should also be away from the public and food preparation areas. Best practices for storage and handling include:

• Using leak-proof bins with sealable lids
• Transporting waste in sealed containers
• Scheduling frequent waste pickups to prevent waste from accumulating
• Maintaining proper labels on all containers

Following these practices keeps facilities safe and compliant, reducing the likelihood of legal penalties and disease outbreaks. 

Transportation and Disposal Methods

When the time comes to move waste off-site or treat it on-site, the right service provider makes a difference. On-site treatment methods include:

• Autoclaving: High-pressure steam sterilization of infectious waste
• Microwave Treatment: Effective for smaller batches of biomedical waste

On the other hand, the process of off-site disposal involves hiring certified disposal personnel who transport medical waste to the designated incineration facilities or treatment areas. These services are mainly helpful for those facilities that do not possess the capacity or resources for on-site treatment. 

Real-Life Example of Effective Medical Waste Management:

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center set an example of how farsighted partnerships can improve waste management results. As a part of its goal to become a zero-waste campus by 2025, the institution partnered with Freepoint Eco-Systems to pilot an advanced recycling program at two of its outpatient care facilities. 

Collaborating with Freepoint Eco-System helped the medical center overcome three challenges they were facing, which included constraints regarding staffing and training, inadequate data, and space limitations. 

The results were notable: 

• 550 pounds of healthcare plastics are collected weekly from the two locations
• 5 tons of blue sterilization wrap have been diverted from landfills
• Over 23,000 pounds of plastic were recycled between 2021 and 2023
• 37.4% of the facility’s non-hazardous waste has been diverted from landfills since 2022

Regulatory Compliance in Medical Waste Disposal

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for regulatory compliance. Although OSHA and the EPA have set national standards, each state has its own waste disposal requirements. For instance, the state of California requires individual on-site treatment records to be kept for a minimum of three years. Likewise, Texas mandates specific temperature controls for waste management. Similarly, New York has specific requirements and rules for pharmaceutical waste segregation. 

Final Thoughts

Medical waste disposal is not just a concern regarding logistics and disposal. It is a public health, environmental, and legal liability issue. Using effective segregation methods, ongoing staff training, secure storage and handling, and compliant disposal, healthcare providers can ensure that medical waste is handled responsibly. For facilities looking to improve their waste management strategy, partnering with trusted service providers ensures that waste management is done safely, sustainably, and compliantly.