Medical waste is strictly regulated due to the health and safety risks posed by contaminated sharps and other infectious materials. The main regulations that govern medical waste management in the United States are:
- The Medical Waste Tracking Act of 1988 requires that medical waste be tracked from the point of generation to the point of destruction. Facilities that generate medical waste must use manifests to track shipments.
- Federal regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classify medical waste and outline treatment and disposal standards. The EPA regulations establish categories for different types of waste based on their potential to infect and cause disease in humans.
- State regulations provide additional rules for licensing, transportation, treatment and disposal of medical waste. States have their own departments that oversee compliance with federal and state medical waste laws.
Proper Segregation and Containerization
To ensure safe and compliant management of medical waste, hospitals and clinics must properly segregate and containerize materials at the point of generation. Waste must be placed in clearly marked red bags or rigid containers that are tightly sealed.
Sharps like needles, scalpels and lancets must be disposed of in sharps containers made of rigid, puncture-resistant material like heavy-duty plastic or metal. Medical Waste Management Liquid waste is drained from containers before disposal. Pathological, microbiological and blood waste materials require special handling.
On-site Medical Waste Management Technologies
Larger healthcare facilities may use on-site technologies to treat regulated medical waste before packaging it for off-site disposal. Common treatment methods include:
- Autoclaving utilizes pressurized steam to sterilize infectious waste through moist heat penetration. Autoclaves effectively deactivate pathogens and render medical waste safe.
- Microwave technology works similarly by using electromagnetic waves to generate internal heat and deactivate microbes. Microwave treatment is becoming more popular due to its efficiency and smaller footprint compared to autoclaves.
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