What is Medical Waste Services ?

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What is Medical Waste Services ?
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Medical waste is any kind of waste that contains
infectious material (or material thats
potentially infectious). This definition includes
waste generated by healthcare facilities like
physicians offices, hospitals, dental practices,
laboratories, medical research facilities, and
veterinary clinics.
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Medical waste can contain bodily fluids like
blood or other contaminants. The 1988 Medical
Waste Tracking Act defines is as waste generated
during medical research, testing, diagnosis,
immunization, or treatment of either human beings
or animals. Some examples are culture dishes,
glassware, bandages, gloves, discarded sharps
like needles or scalpels, swabs, and tissue.
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Medical waste goes by several names that all have
the same basic definition. All of the terms below
refer to waste created during the healthcare
process thats either contaminated or potentially
contaminated by infectious material.
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Medical Waste Services - Greenservinc.com
Medical Waste Biomedical Waste Clinical
Waste Biohazardous Waste Regulated Medical Waste
(RMW) Infectious Medical Waste Healthcare waste
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Medical Waste Types
Sharps. This kind of waste includes anything that
can pierce the skin, including needles, scalpels,
lancets, broken glass, razors, ampules, staples,
wires, and trocars. Infectious Waste. Anything
infectious or potentially infectious goes in this
category, including swabs, tissues, excreta,
equipment, and lab cultures.
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Radioactive. This kind of waste generally means
unused radiotherapy liquid or lab research
liquid. It can also consist of any glassware or
other supplies contaminated with this
liquid. Pathological. Human fluids, tissue,
blood, body parts, bodily fluids, and
contaminated animal carcasses come under this
waste category. Pharmaceuticals. This grouping
includes all unused, expired, and/or contaminated
vaccines and drugs. It also encompasses
antibiotics, injectables, and pills.
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Chemical. These are disinfectants, solvents used
for laboratory purposes, batteries, and heavy
metals from medical equipment such as mercury
from broken thermometers. Genotoxic Waste. This
is a highly hazardous form of medical waste
thats either carcinogenic, teratogenic, or
mutagenic. It can include cytotoxic drugs
intended for use in cancer treatment. General
Non-Regulated Medical Waste. Also called
non-hazardous waste, this type doesnt pose any
particular chemical, biological, physical, or
radioactive danger.
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Medical Waste Services Facts
Quantity. U.S. hospital create an estimated 5.9
million tons of biohazardous and other medical
waste every year. Thats 33 lbs of waste per
staffed bed every single day.
Danger. Biohazardous waste can contain harmful
microorganisms that can infect healthcare
workers, patients, and the general public.
How its treated. Healthcare waste can be treated
on-site or off-site, by truck service or by mail.
It can be incinerated, autoclaved, microwaved, or
treated by chemical or biological means.
Breakdown. 85 of all medical waste is deemed
non-hazardous and general. The other 15 is
hazardous and may be either infectious,
radioactive, or toxic.
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