Safe Disposal of Medical Waste

Medical waste is considered a biohazard, by virtue of containing possible sources of infection or environmental damage. Medical waste, which may range from used bandaging to syringes used to inject a patient, may be created by facilities as diverse as laboratories, veterinary clinics and hospitals. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides guidelines for how biohazardous waste must be dealt with and disposed of. Be sure to adhere to these guidelines to avoid fines and penalties

Things You'll Need

  • Biohazard bags
  • Biohazard sharps bin
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Instructions

    • 1

      Dispose of all sharp waste (i.e., syringes, which can poke through a bag) in a small biohazard sharps bin. The sharps bin must have the label "Biohazard Waste" or a biohazard sign along with the word "Biohazard." When the bin is full, close it according to the manufacturer's instructions.

    • 2

      Dispose of other waste in a biohazard bag. Biohazard bags are red and, like biohazard bins, are labeled with the biohazard sign and the word "biohazard." Biohazard bags must be moisture-resistant and must avoid rips, tears or bursting.

    • 3

      Call your city's Environmental Health department for specific directives for how to transport the waste and where to dispose of it. The Environmental Health Department will be able to advise you on which facility you should use, and any companies that might transport the waste for you. The CDC provides a state-by-state list of community needle disposal sites (see Resources).

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