Radioactive Medical Waste
What Happens to Medical Waste Eventually?
Every day, a relatively large amount of potentially infectious and hazardous waste is generated in health care organizations like hospitals and other facilities around the world. This bio-medical waste must be carefully treated and disposed of in order to avoid contamination and the spread of infectious pathogens. That is why many health facilities and hospitals…
Read MoreGeorgia Medical Waste Requirements
A quick look at Georgia medical waste requirements. In the state of Georgia, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources oversees medical waste disposal under its environmental protection division. Biomedical waste is its own category under the solid waste management plan, which outlines what is considered medical waste, storage specifications, and treatment plans. The state defines…
Read MoreTop 5 Medical Waste Violations: Is Your Facility Guilty?
Is your facility guilty of these common medical waste violations? Despite the abundance of information on proper medical waste disposal and the laws that back this up, there are still some common violations that people make with medical waste removal. Not only is this a compliance issue, it’s an environmental and health issue that can…
Read MoreWhat’s Going in That Sharps Container?
Sharps containers aren’t just for needles. What else goes in that sharps container? If you’ve ever had blood drawn or received a vaccination at a healthcare facility, then you’ve probably seen the practitioner drop the needle into a sharps container. These containers are crucial for infection prevention; they are rigid, puncture-proof, and have lids that…
Read MoreDelaware Medical Waste Requirements
A look at Delaware medical waste requirements. Nearly all 50 states have enacted medical waste regulations, many of which are based on the federal RCRA standards. Of course, state medical waste standards vary diversely. Here is how medical waste is handled in the state of Delaware. In Delaware, medical waste requirements are managed by the…
Read MoreMedical Waste Recycling? Does it Happen?
Reduce, reuse, recycle doesn’t always apply to the medical waste field. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. That is the EPA’s motto for protecting our environment, but this adage doesn’t always apply to the medical waste field. Medical waste has a different set of rules when it comes to disposal and reusing because of its very nature. The…
Read MoreColorado Medical Waste Requirements
A peek at Colorado medical waste requirements. Colorado’s medical waste disposal regulations and requirements are managed by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The aim of these requirements are the same as all other states: to reduce medical waste and to protect the environment from infectious disease. For healthcare facilities and other…
Read MoreAlaska Medical Waste Requirements
Medical waste disposal is regulated by the federal and state government. Here’s what happens in Alaska. There are several key categories of waste that are typically classified as ‘regulated’. Each category typically has special handling requirements that are usually state-specific. In Alaska, medical waste disposal regulations are managed by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.…
Read MoreDo I Need An OSHA Certification?
In facilities that produce and store medical waste, employees may be required to have an OSHA certification. In an environment with dangerous hazards such as sharps waste and other regulated medical waste, proper training for handling and disposal is necessary to prevent the spread of infection. Medical waste is primarily regulated by state environmental and…
Read MoreBetter Medical Waste Management Resolutions
Here’s how medical waste producers can resolve to have a solid plan for optimal safety and regulation. With the new year upon us, it’s a good time for medical waste producers to reevaluate their areas and come up with safer, more effective processes for medical waste removal. For busy laboratories, medical offices, medical spas, tattoo…
Read MoreThe Four Types of Medical Waste
Generally, there are four major types of medical waste. What are they and how are they handled? Anyone who manages medical waste, whether it’s in a busy hospital, laboratory, veterinary practice, or dental office, knows that waste is dealt with a bit differently than a traditional office. Whereas most offices will have recycling, shredding, or…
Read More