Jagannath institute of

management science

A Project report on “MEDICAL WASTE”

Department of Bachelor of
Business Administration (BBA)
SUBMITTED TO – “PUNITIKA BATRA”
SUBMITTED BY – SHWETA (119)
JASKIRAT (131)
IQRAR (083)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First and foremost, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude to
our professor, whose expertise and encouragement have been
instrumental in shaping our understanding of the subject matter. Your
insightful feedback and constructive criticism have pushed us to delve
deeper into the complexities of medical waste management, and we
are grateful for the knowledge and skills we have gained under your
mentorship.
Furthermore, we are grateful for the resources and materials provided
by the library staff, which enabled us to conduct thorough research
and gather relevant information for our presentation. The access to
academic journals, books, and online databases proved invaluable in
expanding our knowledge base and ensuring the accuracy of our
content.
Finally, we would like to acknowledge and express our deepest
gratitude to each member of our group: Shweta, Jaskirat and Iqrar.
Your commitment, dedication, and teamwork have been exemplary.
Each of you brought unique perspectives, expertise, and strengths to
this project, which greatly contributed to its success. It has been an
honor and a pleasure to collaborate with such talented individuals.
In conclusion, this project would not have been possible without the
collective efforts of everyone involved. We extend our heartfelt
thanks to every individual who played a part, no matter how big or
small, in making this presentation on medical waste a reality. Your
support and contributions have truly made a difference.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
JASKIRAT, SHWETA AND IQRAR

ABSTRACT
Medical Waste
This abstract provides a summary of the topic of medical waste,
covering its types, sources, effects on health and the environment, and
the importance of effective medical waste management.
Types of Waste: Medical waste encompasses various categories,
including infectious waste, sharps waste, pharmaceutical waste,
pathological waste, and chemical waste. Understanding these different
types is crucial for appropriate handling and disposal.
Sources of Medical Waste: The generation of medical waste occurs in
healthcare facilities such as hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and
research institutions. The sources include discarded medical supplies,
contaminated materials, expired medications, and biological
specimens.
Effects on Health and Environment: Improper management of
medical waste can pose serious risks to public health and the
environment. It may lead to the transmission of infectious diseases,
injuries from sharps, and contamination of soil, water bodies, and air,
endangering ecosystems and human well-being.
Medical Waste Management: Effective medical waste management is
essential to mitigate the associated risks. It involves segregation,
proper packaging, transportation, treatment, and disposal of waste in
accordance with regulations and guidelines. Implementation of safe
practices and training of healthcare personnel are crucial components.
Conclusion: This abstract provides a brief overview of medical waste,
covering its types, sources, effects on health and the environment, and
the importance of proper management. It emphasizes the need for
adherence to regulations and guidelines to ensure the safety of
healthcare workers, the public, and the environment.

TABLE OF CONTENT

CH 1 - CLINICAL WASTE
CH 2 - TYPES OF WASTE
2.1 - INFECTIOUS WASTE
2.2 - PATHOLOGICAL WASTE
2.3 - SHARPS WASTE
2.4 - CHEMICAL WASTE
2.5 - PHARMACEUTICAL WASTE
2.6 - RADIOACTIVE WASTE
2.7 - CYTOXIC WASTE
2.8 - NON-HAZARDOUS WASTE

CH 3 – SOURCES OF MEDICAL WASTE

CH 4 – HAZARDOUS EFFECT
4.1 - EFFECT ON HEALTH
4.2 - EFFECT ON ENVIRONMENT

CH 5 – BIO MEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT

5.1 - SEGREGATION
5.2 - COLLECTION AND TRANSPORTATION
5.3 - STORAGE
5.4 - TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL

CLINICAL WASTE
Clinical waste is commonly defined as a type of waste that has the potential to cause infection
or disease. Such waste is generated by healthcare service providers such as GP surgeries,
hospitals, nursing homes, health clinics or centres, and dental practices. It also applies to
veterinary practices, pharmacies, and research and development labs.
TYPES OF WASTE
Waste and by-products cover a diverse range of materials, as the following list illustrates:

Infectious waste:

Waste contaminated with blood and other bodily fluids (e.g., from discarded diagnostic
samples), cultures and stocks of infectious agents from laboratory work (e.g., waste from
autopsies and infected animals from laboratories), or waste from patients with infections
(e.g., swabs, bandages and disposable medical devices);

Pathological waste:
Pathological waste, or anatomical waste, is a specific type of medical waste. However,
medical waste is a broad term that refers to a wide array of hazardous materials from medical
facilities.
Medical waste can include needles, syringes, pharmaceutical drugs, rags, and other medical
items. Essentially, any items used by medical professionals for patient treatment are
considered medical waste.
Pathological waste, on the other hand, is the type of medical waste that consists of bodily
fluids or body parts.
 Tissues
 Organs
 Surgical specimens
 Body fluid
 Animal body parts
 Human body parts
 Blood specimens

Sharps waste:
Syringes, needles, disposable scalpels and blades, etc.;

Dangers associated with improper sharps disposal are severe. It is vital that all healthcare
providers who utilize sharps in the course of their procedures or business practices know how
to identify sharps and determine whether they might be contaminated. When exactly does a
sharp become medical waste? As mentioned, a medical sharp encompasses anything that has
the potential to pierce, poke, impale, scrape, or cut the skin that is possibly contaminated with
bodily fluids, per OSHA. Many dangers are associated with improper sharps disposal, and
needlestick injuries are listed among the most prevalent. Despite advances, needlestick
injuries can result in HIV infection or exposure to Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis C (HCV)
infections.
According to data provided by the CDC in 2018 and 2019, devices most involved in a sharp
injury continue to be disposable hypodermic syringes and suture needles. Safer and newer
technologies are currently being explored to aid in the reduction of further injury.
Increasingly common sharps injury prevention features such as retracting or shielded needles
and blades have been devised, but despite widespread availability, they are not used in many
instances.
Preventing needlestick injuries is a primary focus of sharps safety protocols, but so too
is proper disposal of sharps waste.

Chemical waste:
For example, solvents and reagents used for laboratory preparations, disinfectants, sterilants
and heavy metals contained in medical devices (e.g., mercury in broken thermometers) and
batteries;

Pharmaceutical waste:

This waste includes discarded pharmaceutical products like prescription and over-the-counter
medications, as well as the chemical sludges and wastewater produced during
pharmaceuticals manufacturing. It also includes waste medical items, like used gloves and
sharps, that contact pharmaceuticals. Because of the health hazards and ecological risks this
waste poses, it requires specialized disposal processes that ensure safety.

Radioactive waste:
Such as products contaminated by radionuclides including radioactive diagnostic material or
radiotherapeutic materials. Healthcare facilities employ radioactive materials in both
diagnostic (in vitro analysis of tissue and imaging) and treatment procedures. Radioactive
waste can come in many forms: medical equipment contaminated with trace amounts of
certain isotopes, clothing, biological material (pathological waste), and the radiation source
for radiation therapy (e.g., a cobalt block). When radioactive materials are placed inside
patient bodies - for instance iodine to treat a diseased thyroid gland or iridium pellets to
destroy prostate tumors - body parts and fluids can become radioactive pathological waste.
Radioimmunoassay is a technique for finding levels of biochemicals inside the body by
injecting radioactive antigens into the bloodstream. This likewise results in radioactive
pathological waste. Packaging material, washing fluids, and paper wipes may be radioactive
wastes.
To best manage radioactive waste the manager should understand where the waste comes
from and the nature of the radioactive isotopes, including half-life and type of radiation.
Radioactive substances are genotoxic. The good news is that many radioactive materials used
inside the body have very short half-lives. Doctors choose fast-decaying isotopes partly to
avoid side effects - so residual radiation will not harm healthy tissue. This means waste
containing those isotopes tends to lose its radioactivity quickly, reducing storage and disposal
risks. However, every case and application of radioactive materials must be evaluated to
determine the best storage and disposal solution. Brachytherapy (sealed source radiotherapy)
pellets, for instance, are made of materials with relatively long half-lifes. Common
brachytherapy isotopes are iodine-125 (half-life of 60 days), palladium-103 (17 days), and
iridium-192 (74 days.) The cobalt isotope (cobalt-60) used in radiation therapy for cancer
patients has a long half-life of over 5 years; it tends to be the single most problematic
radiation source in a hospital.
Liquid scintillation cocktails are used to measure radioactivity of materials in the hospital,
and the spent cocktail becomes radioactive waste that must be managed. Radioactive waste is
likewise generated from cleaning radioactive equipment and from cleaning up spills.
Cytotoxic waste:
Waste containing substances with genotoxic properties (i.e., highly hazardous substances that
are, mutagenic, teratogenic or carcinogenic), such as cytotoxic drugs used in cancer treatment
and their Metabolites. Cytotoxic waste is a chemical, drug, or pharmaceutical that is toxic
to cells. In other words, it kills cells. In their publication “Safe Handling of Hazardous
Drugs in Healthcare,” the Public Services Health and Safety Association defines
cytotoxic drugs – also known as antineoplastic drugs – as agents used in chemotherapy
procedures to control or kill cancer cells. The terms “antineoplastic” and “cytotoxic”
are often used interchangeably throughout Canada.

Several regulatory agencies have their pulse on environmental concerns regarding improperly
disposed of healthcare, pharmaceutical, and especially, cytotoxic or toxic wastes. Federal
departments have created numerous acts that focus on substances and products of
biotechnology to reduce risk to not only human health, but the environment as well. Proper
handling focuses on safety, reduction, and prevention of exposure to healthcare professionals
outside of the treatment room where chemotherapy or other procedures are conducted using
cytotoxic drugs.

It doesn’t stop there though.

Proper packaging, storage, and disposal options also help to protect anyone handling
cytotoxic waste. Whether it’s a hospital, a cancer care centre, or a pharmacy that supplies
such drugs, waste generators are responsible for the duty of care for how cytotoxic waste is
disposed of. Certain steps are taken to ensure protection of not only the public, but the
environment.
What can a cytotoxic drug do to a healthy person? The basic function of such drugs is to
interfere with the growth and function of not only diseased cells, but also affect healthy
cells, because of toxic side effects. The US National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH) has identified the primary characteristics of hazardous drugs,
which are also acknowledged through Canadian provinces and territories. They
include:

 Carcinogenic – an agent or substance that can cause cancer

 Teratogenic – an agent that can cause fetal malformation
 Reproductive toxicity – has adverse effects on both male and female reproductive
systems, which can lead to fetal loss during pregnancy as well as decreased fertility
 Genotoxic – implying an agent or substance that causes lack of integrity in cellular
genetic materials, otherwise causing damage or mutations to DNA
 Organ toxicity at low doses – implies damage or toxicity to health or organs such as
liver damage, or local damage or necrosis to exposed tissues

The Canadian Union of Public Employees also recognizes the term “mutagenic,” which
defines a substance that can alter the DNA of a living human being, increasing the chance of
mutations.
While patients may assume the risk of potential toxicity, the risk of exposure to healthcare
professionals is also of concern. These can include any individuals involved in the chain of
treatment from a nurse or physician to laboratory professionals, shipping and receiving
personnel, housekeeping staff, and other support workers.
The most common route of exposure is through contact with an object, body fluid, or surface
that has been contaminated with a cytotoxic substance, as well as an accidental needle stick.
The processes involved in chemotherapy or radiotherapy itself require handling and disposal
of the equipment used in drug administration or other contaminated waste, such as
contaminated body fluids or feces of the patient.

Non-hazardous or general waste:

Waste that does not pose any biological, chemical, radioactive or physical hazard. Non-
hazardous pharmaceutical waste is a bit of a misnomer in that it’s not as harmless as it
sounds. It still poses health risks to the environment. Better terminology is non-RCRA
pharmaceutical waste. RCRA stands for Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the
legislation through which the Environmental Protection Agency governs how hazardous
waste must be treated and disposed of.
Non-hazardous or non-RCRA waste is waste that is not governed by RCRA laws. But it still
must be disposed of properly to protect our communities and comply with other state and
federal regulations.

Non-RCRA pharmaceutical waste accounts for about 85 percent of all hospital pharmacy
inventory waste, and includes:

 U- and P-listed drugs in which the listed chemicals are not the sole active ingredient.
 Drugs listed as hazardous by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA).
 Drugs categorized as carcinogenic by the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services National Toxicology Program.
 Drugs categorized as LD50 at or below 50 mg/kg.
 Any endocrine-disrupting compounds are not already covered above.
 Any vitamin or mineral supplements that contain enough chromium, selenium or
cadmium to fail the toxicity test or for which there is insufficient information to
decide.

The major sources of clinical waste are -

 Hospitals and other health facilities
 Laboratories and research centres
 Mortuary and autopsy centres
 Animal research and testing laboratories
 Blood banks and collection services
 Nursing homes for the elderly

High-income countries generate on average up to 0.5 kg of hazardous waste per hospital bed
per day; while low-income countries generate on average 0.2 kg. However, health-care waste
is often not separated into hazardous or non-hazardous wastes in low-income countries
making the real quantity of hazardous waste much higher.

HAZARDOUS EFFECT OF MEDICAL WASTE

ON HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

Persons at Risk
All individuals exposed to hazardous health-care waste are potentially at risk, including those
within health-care establishments that generate hazardous waste, and those outside these
sources who either handle such waste or are exposed to it as a consequence of careless
management. The main groups at risk are the following: medical doctors, nurses, health-care
auxiliaries, and hospital maintenance personnel; patients in health-care establishments or
receiving home care; visitors to health-care establishments; workers in support services allied
to health-care establishments, such as laundries, waste handling, and transportation; workers
in waste disposal facilities (such as incinerators), including scavengers.
The hazards associated with scattered, small sources of health-care waste should not be
overlooked; waste from these sources includes that generated by home-based healthcare, such
as dialysis, and that generated by illicit drug use (usually intravenous).

Health-care activities protect and restore health and save lives. But what about the waste and
by-products they generate? Of the total amount of waste generated by health-care activities,
about 85% is general, nonhazardous waste comparable to domestic waste. The remaining
15% are considered hazardous material that may be infectious, toxic, or radioactive.

Health Risks
Health-care waste contains potentially harmful microorganisms which can infect hospital
patients, health workers, and the public. Other potential infectious risks may include the
spread of drug-resistant microorganisms from health facilities into the environment.

Health risks associated with waste and by-products also include:

 Radiation burns;
 Sharps-inflicted injuries;
 Poisoning and pollution through the release of pharmaceutical products antibiotics
and cytotoxic drugs; and
 Poisoning and pollution through wastewater; and by toxic elements or compounds
such as mercury or dioxins that are released during incineration.
Sharps-Related
Worldwide, an estimated 16 billion injections are administered every year. Not all needles
and syringes are disposed of safely, creating a risk of injury and infection and opportunities
for reuse.
Injections with contaminated needles and syringes in low- and middle-income countries have
reduced substantially in recent years, partly due to efforts to reduce reuse of injection devices.
Despite this progress, in 2010, unsafe injections were still responsible for as many as 33,800
new HIV infections, 1.7 million hepatitis B infections, and 315,000 hepatitis C infections.
A person who experiences one needle-stick injury from a needle used on an infected source
patient has risks of 30%, 1.8%, and 0.3%, respectively, of becoming infected with HBV,
HCV, and HIV.
Additional hazards occur from scavenging at waste disposal sites and during the manual
sorting of hazardous waste from health-care facilities. These practices are common in many
regions of the world, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The waste handlers are
at immediate risk of needle-stick injuries and exposure to toxic or infectious materials.
In 2015, a joint WHO/UNICEF assessment found that just over half (58%) of sampled
facilities from 24 countries had adequate systems in place for the safe disposal of health-care
waste.

Contact with improperly disposed of biomedical wastes

contribute to:
 Lung infections
 Parasitic infections
 Skin infections
 The spread of viral illnesses such as HIV, Hepatitis B, and C
 Bacteremia
 Cholera
 Tuberculosis

Needlestick injury and sharps injury incidents increase the risk to the health of employees on
a daily basis. The risk of contamination by HIV, hepatitis B and C pathogens are of primary
concern to healthcare workers inside healthcare facilities. Costs of treatments for the over
300,000 needlestick injury incidents every year add thousands of dollars to a healthcare
facility’s budget.

Environmental Impact
Treatment and disposal of health-care waste may pose health risks indirectly through the
release of pathogens and toxic pollutants into the environment.
  Landfills can contaminate drinking water if they are not properly constructed.
Occupational risks exist at disposal facilities that are not well-designed, run, or
maintained. ▪
 Incineration of waste has been widely practised, but inadequate incineration or the
incineration of unsuitable materials results in the release of pollutants into the air and
of ash residue. Incinerated materials containing chlorine can generate dioxins and
furans, which are human carcinogens and have been associated with a range of
adverse health effects. Incineration of heavy metals or materials with high-metal
content (lead, mercury, and cadmium) can lead to the spread of toxic metals in the
environment.
 Only modern incinerators operating at 850–1100°C and fitted with special gas-
cleaning equipment can comply with the international emission standards for dioxins
and furans.

 Alternatives to incineration are now available, such as autoclaving, microwaving,

steam treatment integrated with internal mixing, and chemical treatment .

Improper segregation of biomedical waste and different medical waste

streams from the point of origin can trigger a domino-like effect on the
environment that incurs dangers to people, animals, or soil and water
sources.
Improper segregation and disposal of biomedical waste has the potential to contaminate
groundwater sources, which in turn may infect humans and animals alike. From a hospital’s
waste and storage receptacles to landfills, biomedical waste needs to be properly contained to
keep it away from birds, rodents, and stray animals (as well as humans). This enhances
packaging and labeling of contaminants and helps prevent the spread of illness through
human and animal populations – by air, land, or water.
If not properly contained, segregated, and incinerated through on-site or off-site incineration,
environmental hazards associated with improper healthcare waste management can
contaminate the air we breathe through dangerous airborne particles. Radioactive particles
produced with diagnostic technologies have the potential to reach a landfill or other areas of
the environment, especially air. Air pollutants disseminated over huge areas of inhabited land
have the potential to trigger several illnesses.

BIO MEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT

1. SEGREGATION
2. COLLECTION AND TRANSPORTATION
3. STORAGE
4. TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL

SEGREGATION
Waste segregation can be defined as the process of identifying, classifying, dividing and
sorting of garbage and waste products to reduce, reuse and recycle materials.
In order to segregate waste appropriately, it is important to correctly identify the type of
waste that is generated. For the purposes of waste segregation at source, waste is identified
and classified into the following categories depending on their biological, physical and
chemical properties:

 Dry Waste – Refers to all items that are not considered wet/soiled items. This
includes both recyclable and non-recyclable materials. Dry waste includes items such
as bottles, cans, clothing, plastic, wood, glass, metals and paper.
 Wet Waste – Refers to all items that are organic like food items, soiled food
wrappers, hygiene products, yard waste, tissues and paper towels, as well as any other
soiled item that would contaminate the recyclables.
 Sanitary Waste – Refers to all liquid or solid waste originating solely from humans
and human activities. (Can also include items from medical waste)
 Hazardous Household Waste – Refers to all household products that contain
corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive ingredients, other than used oil.
 E-Waste – Refers to all kinds of electronic waste.
 Hazardous Waste – Refers to all items, products and by-products that contain
corrosive, toxic, ignitable or reactive ingredients.
  Inert Waste – Refers to waste items that are neither chemically or biologically
reactive nor decompose easily.

Significance of Waste Segregation

Waste segregation is critical because certain types of wastes can be hazardous and can
contaminate the environment if not managed correctly. (Some of these types of waste may
also have the potential to cause disease or get into water supplies or contaminate the land
with different types of leachates.)
When waste is unsegregated, it may get contaminated with different types of waste being
stored together. Such waste cannot be treated or managed and most of the time ends up being
dumped into local dump yards or landfills. With waste segregation, management of different
types of wastes becomes possible. This directly results in reduced amounts of waste being
dumped at dump yards or landfills.
Waste Segregation is always step one for all types of waste management solutions that may
be implemented either on individual level or community level.

Color Codes for Bins

For ease of waste segregation, the disposal bins are color coded.

Type of Waste Color of Bin

BIOHAZARDOUS RED
RADIOACTIVE YELLOW
NON-HAZARDOUS BLUE
HAZARDOUS WASTE BLACK
Benefits of Waste Segregation
Waste segregation facilitates the process of reuse, recycling, and recovery of waste.
Segregating waste can improve the recycling process. For example, separating wet waste
from dry waste is a simple way to help recycling companies. It will help to recycle non-
biodegradable waste and treat biodegradable waste directly. Thereby, only degradable wastes
will be disposed of into the natural environment, leading to less overall pollution. Waste
segregation promotes the efficient use of our resources and protects them for future
generations. Yet, the importance of waste segregation is not limited to that.

Separating waste helps reduce landfill waste. Today, landfills are a growing problem because
of the increasing population and their consumption patterns. Waste segregation is an ideal
way to diminish the impact of landfills on the environment as well as health issues that can
result from improperly disposed of wastes and toxins.

Unless waste is segregated before it is disposed of, it might get mixed up at the landfill. Can
you imagine what would happen if that waste contained methane or carbon dioxide? It could
lead to serious problems because both are greenhouse gases that cause global warming.
Stairway to Public Health

The disposal of waste without segregation may leak harmful chemicals into the soil as well.
In the long run, this can damage soil fertility and affect human health adversely.

The advantages of waste segregation are much more than that! Segregating waste is also
essential for public health, especially when it comes to separating hazardous and non-
hazardous waste. Health-related problems can arise when waste is thrown away without
segregation. Various types of illnesses can be caused by non-biodegradable and toxic waste,
including skin irritations, growth issues, and more. Waste segregation also protects the health
of the workers who handle it directly.

Cost-Effective and Environmentally Friendly

It is becoming increasingly important for construction companies to have a waste

management plan. Financial reasons are the main reason for segregating construction waste.
In the average construction business, 100 metric tons of waste are generated every year. The
majority of this waste is sent to landfills, which are costly for businesses.
Construction waste can be recycled more efficiently when it is separated. Also, profit margins
per project increase when waste is sent to landfills less often. Yes, waste management plans
are created in the office, but they must be implemented on the site. If staff is educated and
trained to follow waste segregation guidelines, less waste ends up in landfills. Each and every
project will benefit from lower disposal costs, lower levels of waste, and larger profit
margins.

Healthcare waste management strategies must also include waste segregation as a key
component. Waste should be separated at the source to reduce infection risk and disposal
costs. Keeping hazardous waste separated at its source ensures that it is treated safely and
sustainably without putting the health of healthcare workers or patients at risk. Waste should
be collected in appropriate containers labeled and colored according to the type of waste
generated.

COLLECTION AND TRANSPORT

Unlike standard trash tossed into garbage containers, medical waste must be treated with
caution and care. Hazardous waste and dangerous objects often fill medical waste collection
containers. All public facilities must work with reputable medical waste disposal companies
to collect and treat materials in a safe manner. There are specific procedures to secure,
transport and discard medical waste throughout the nation.

Frequent Medical Waste Collection

Waste processing begins with frequent pickup schedules. Hazardous waste breaks down over
time, especially when items aren’t refrigerated. Medical waste disposal companies should
collect waste once a week or even more, depending on a facility’s patient volume. Frequent
collection keeps containers empty for continual use. If containers become too full, waste
cannot be simply thrown in random disposal vessels. Medical personnel and patients rely on
constant waste collection to keep a facility operating safely and efficiently.
Secure Transport

Medical waste collection must be secured within transport vehicles. Containers may be
emptied or physically pulled from medical facilities, for example. The vehicle must have
containers ready to hold all waste. These vessels are often bolted or strapped to secure vehicle
areas, such as metal loops. No waste can contaminate the vehicle, especially during turns,
braking and accelerating. Medical waste companies design their vehicles to be as secure as
possible for their workers too.

Common Incineration Techniques

Incineration remains one of the most common ways to treat medical waste. Factories
specializing in waste Management uses strict treatment steps to keep all procedures as safe as
possible. Management companies divide materials into different containers, eventually
leading to incinerator compartments. Waste is vaporized as companies contain any fumes
emanating from burning procedures. There is no leftover materials to create more hazardous
waste, making incineration a common method for waste treatment.

Sterilization Alternative
Some medical items cannot be incinerated, making their sterilization critical for safe disposal
processes. Medical waste collection companies use autoclaves and other sterilizing machines
to destroy microbes. Heat and chemicals are applied to waste items, effectively ridding them
of any germs. No Viruses or bacteria can withstand sterilization procedures, so items can then
be handled normally. Afterward, sterile items may be recycled or discarded through normal
waste procedures. Medical waste disposal companies are constantly updating their collection
procedures to keep up with current research. The safest handling parameters are passed on to
medical professionals, allowing them to adhere to best practices. All patients and medical
workers remain safe with proper waste management.

STORAGE
15 Tips for Storing Medical Waste
Tip 1. Keep medical waste separate from other waste at the point of generation.
Tip 2. Store medical waste in red biohazard bags.
Tip 3. Tie biohazard bags when full.
Tip 4. To avoid rupture, do not overfill bags.
Tip 5. Store biohazard bags in rigid containers with tight-fitting lids and label the containers
with the word “Biohazard.” Some states require that the international biohazard symbol be on
the lids and sides and visible from any direction.
Tip 6. Wash and decontaminate the medical waste containers on a routine basis.
Tip 7. Ensure that sharps waste is contained in sharps containers.
Tip 8. Close sharps containers when they are 2/3 full.
Tip 9. Dispose of the sharps container the same day it is closed.
Tip 10. Designate a specific area for storage, and label it with the word “Biohazard” and/or
the universal biohazard symbol.
Tip 11. Make sure the storage area is secure and, in a location, to protect it from theft,
vandalism, inadvertent human or animal exposure, rain, water, and wind.
Tip 12. Keep the storage area clean and well-ventilated so that it does not become a breeding
ground for insects or rodents and does not generate noxious odors.
Tip 13. Minimize exposure to the medical waste storage area and ensure that it is accessible
only to authorized employees.
Tip 14. Limit the storage time medical waste is stored above 32 degrees Fahrenheit. For
example, California puts that limit at 7 or 20 days depending on the amount of medical waste
generated. Medical waste stored below freezing should be monitored on a regular schedule.
The storage time can be longer than for unfrozen waste. California puts that limit at 90 days.
Tip 15. Maintain a medical waste spill plan that describes procedures and disinfectant to be
used to clean up spills.

TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL

There are five main technology options available for the treatment of bio-
medical waste. They can be grouped as follows.
 Chemical processes
 Thermal processes
 Mechanical processes
 Irradiation processes
 Biological processes

Chemical processes
These processes use chemicals that act as disinfectants. Sodium hypochlorite, dissolved
chlorine dioxide, peracetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, dry inorganic chemical and ozone are
examples of such chemicals. Most chemical processes are water-intensive and require
neutralising agents.

Thermal processes
These processes utilise heat to disinfect. Depending on the temperature they operate, it has
been grouped into two categories, which are Low-heat systems and High-heat systems
Low-heat systems (operate between 93 -177oC) use steam, hot water, or electromagnetic
radiation to heat and decontaminate the waste. Autoclave & Microwave are low heat systems.
i. Autoclaving is a low heat thermal process, and it uses steam for disinfection of waste.
Autoclaves are of two types depending on the method they use for removal of air pockets.
They are gravity flow autoclave and vacuum autoclave.
ii. Microwaving is a process which disinfects the waste by moist heat and steam generated
by microwave energy.
High-heat systems employ combustion and high temperature plasma to decontaminate and
destroy the waste. Incinerator & Hydroclaving are high heat systems.
Mechanical processes
These processes are used to change the physical form or characteristics of the waste either to
facilitate waste handling or to process the waste in conjunction with other treatment steps.
The two primary mechanical processes are Compaction - used to reduce the volume of the
waste shredding - used to destroy plastic and paper waste to prevent their reuse. Only the
disinfected waste can be used in a shredder.

Irradiation processes
In these processes, wastes are exposed to ultraviolet or ionizing radiation in an enclosed
chamber. These systems require post shredding to render the waste unrecognizable.

Biological processes
Biological enzymes are used for treating medical waste. It is claimed that biological reactions
will not only decontaminate the waste but also cause the destruction of all the organic
constituents so that only plastics, glass, and other inert will remain in the residues.

There are three main medical waste disposal methods:

Autoclaving. About 90 percent of biohazardous waste is incinerated this way. The material is
placed in a specialized container at high levels of temperature and pressure to be
consequently destroyed. Or it’s zapped in a microwave-on-steroids to exactly the same effect.
Chemical Disinfection. Some biohazardous waste can be chemically disinfected and then
landfilled like any other kind of waste.
Encapsulation. This is used for what medical-waste aficionados call “sharps,” which is
contaminated material that can easily puncture conventional waste containers and thereby
spread their evil. Most obvious are syringes. This kind of stuff is “encapsulated” into
puncture-proof containers and segregated from the more-pedestrian garbage in landfills
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, medical waste presents significant challenges that require immediate attention
and effective management strategies. The proper handling and disposal of medical waste are
crucial for safeguarding public health and protecting the environment.
The diverse types of medical waste, including infectious waste, sharps waste, pharmaceutical
waste, pathological waste, and chemical waste, necessitate specialized approaches to
handling and disposal. Healthcare facilities, as the primary sources of medical waste, must
implement comprehensive waste management practices to minimize the associated risks.
The impact of improper medical waste management on health and the environment cannot be
understated. Inadequate disposal can lead to the spread of infectious diseases, injuries from
sharps, and contamination of soil, water bodies, and air. These consequences pose serious
risks to ecosystems, human health, and the overall well-being of communities.
To address these challenges, effective medical waste management systems must be
established. This involves the implementation of proper waste segregation, packaging,
transportation, treatment, and disposal methods in compliance with regulatory guidelines.
Education and training programs should be developed to ensure healthcare personnel are
well-informed and capable of handling medical waste safely.

REFERENCES
Medical waste -
https://www.medprodisposal.com/what-is-medical-waste-medical-waste-definition-
types-examples-and-more/

Types of medical waste -

1.Infectious waste and chemical waste

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/health-care-waste#:~:text=Infectious
%20waste%3A%20waste%20contaminated%20with,e.g.%20swabs%2C%20bandages
%20and%20disposable

2.Pathological waste

https://www.pureingenium.com/regulatory-updates/what-is-pathological-waste/

3.Sharps waste

https://www.danielshealth.com/knowledge-center/what-sharps-waste

4.Pharmaceutical waste

https://www.vlses.com/2022/10/31/types-of-pharmaceutical-waste/#:~:text=What%20is
%20pharmaceutical%20waste%3F,wastewaters%20produced%20during
%20pharmaceuticals%20manufacturing.

5.Radioactive waste

https://www.malsparo.com/radioactive.htm

6.Non-hazardous waste -

https://usbioclean.com/what-is-non-hazardous-pharmaceutical-waste-and-what-should-
you-do-with-it/

Sources of medical waste -

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/health-care-waste

Hazardous effect on health and environment -

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/health-care-waste
https://www.danielshealth.com/knowledge-center/effects-biomedical-waste

Bio medical waste management -

Segregation -

https://greensutra.in/waste-segregation-all-you-need-to-know/

https://wastemedic.com/2022/04/the-basics-of-color-coding-your-medical-waste-
disposal/

https://evreka.co/blog/why-waste-segregation-is-more-important-than-you-think/
#:~:text=Waste%20segregation%20facilitates%20the%20process,and%20treat
%20biodegradable%20waste%20directly.

Collection and transport -

https://medsharps.com/what-is-the-process-for-medical-waste-collection-and-treatment/

STORAGE -

https://ehsdailyadvisor.blr.com/2015/10/15-tips-storing-medical-waste/

TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL -

https://vikaspedia.in/energy/environment/waste-management/bio-medical-waste-
management/treatment-of-bio-medical-waste

https://www.hazardouswasteexperts.com/medical-waste-disposal-methods/
.