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Treatment and disposal methods of medical waste relies on the type of waste. Hazardous waste treatment and disposal regulations are different than regulations for non-hazardous waste. All medical waste needs to be identified and segregated to ensure that proper management processes are involved, following federal and state guidelines.
Following proper ways to collect and transport industrial waste is vital, especially with increasingly specific laws focused on protecting the environment. Any generator of industrial waste must manage and dispose of it properly and in compliance with federal and state and local laws.
If you generate any hazardous materials in your line of work, it’s imperative you know your EPA generator status. Whether you’re a large quantity generator or a conditionally exempt small quantity generator or in between, your status dictates important aspects of how you store, transport, and report on your waste. Failure to comply with federal and state regulations and laws that apply to your status could result in steep fines.
If your medical facility has a waste management contract, it is very important that you know exactly when your contract comes up for renewal, especially if you’re not happy with your current services. If you lose track of it and accidently allow that contract to automatically renew, it very well could end up costing your medical facility a great deal of time, money, and frustration.
One of the most important aspects of handling, transporting, and properly disposing of hazardous waste is obviously safety. Preparation for potential emergencies needs to be in place in case something unexpected happens during transport, especially in regard to hazardous waste. One such security measure is the inclusion of emergency response numbers on the hazardous waste manifest.
Whether you’re dealing with a broken beaker, discarded slides, or a used syringe barrel, hazardous glass and plastic waste should be categorized and disposed of according to its type and use. Though such items often appear harmless, the truth can be alarming, especially in healthcare or pharmaceutical industries. The process for safe hazardous glass and plastic disposal starts with proper identification.
Be aware of the regulations regarding disposal of medications, whether they’re expired or not. Strict regulations that govern how you can dispose of expired medications are in place, both on federal and state levels. Don’t put your facility at risk due to improper or unsafe medication disposal processes. One particular area of confusion relates to shipping expired medications to a reverse distributor.
Whether you run a small rural clinic or a 500-bed hospital in Georgia, you need to abide by a number of overarching medical waste regulations. Outside state-specific regulations are those of the federal government. Your doctor’s office or hospital must follow the rules of both to maintain compliance. While requirements for medical waste management in a small doctor’s office are not the same as the scope as that of a large hospital, you should be aware of (and working with people who are aware of) potential similarities and differences.
While most colleges don’t typically consider themselves to be large generators of hazardous material, they do often generate it. Whether your college is dealing with chemicals associated with the aquatic center or fertilizer from the ground’s keepers, colleges produce hazardous waste that needs to be specially dealt with.
The differences between regulated medical waste and potentially hazardous medical wastes are not always easy to define. That’s why it is imperative that not only health professionals, but also housekeeping and janitorial staff, are aware of the difference between wastes that belong in the regulated or ‘non-regulated’ categories when it comes to disposal.
