Pathological Waste

Pathological waste (sometimes known as as anatomical waste) refers to the waste disposal of any human or animal body parts. This can include organs, tissues, surgical specimens and bodily fluids removed during surgery or autopsy. All pathological waste must be properly disposed of in an approved and correctly labelled pathological waste container.

Pathological waste differs from most medical waste in that it has a higher moisture content. Human anatomical waste is 70 to 90 percent water. Most pathological waste is incinerated but it does depend on the type of waste generated and the state guidelines within the state in which the waste was generated.