1. Biomedical Waste Management
Definition, Facts, and Best Practices
© 2017 All Rights Reserved

2. Definition of Biomedical Waste
“Medical waste that contains potentially infectious material.”
1988 Medical Waste Tracking Act defines it as, “waste generated during medical research, testing, diagnosis, immunization, or treatment of human beings or animals.”
© 2017 All Rights Reserved

3. Names for Biomedical Waste
Regulated Medical Waste
Bio Medical Waste
Healthcare Waste
Clinical Waste
Medical Waste
Biohazardous Waste
Infectious Medical Waste
© 2017 All Rights Reserved

4. Types of Biomedical Waste
Sharps (needles, scalpels, lancets, broken glass, etc.)
Infectious Waste (swabs, lab cultures, excreta, etc.)
Pathological (human fluids, body parts, animal carcasses)
© 2017 All Rights Reserved

5. Non-Biological Hazardous Waste
Pharmaceuticals
Chemicals (cleaning products, mercury from broken thermometers)
Genotoxic Waste (e.g. cytotoxic drugs for cancer treatment)
© 2017 All Rights Reserved

6. How Much Biohazardous Waste Per Year?
5.9 million tons of medical waste per year
85% is non-hazardous
Approx. 1 million tons biomedical waste per year
16 billion injections per year
2 million needles per day
800,000 needle sticks per year (per NIOSH)
© 2017 All Rights Reserved

7. Brief History of Biomedical Waste
1980’s – Highly publicized medical waste incidents (“Hypodermics on the shore”)
1988 – Federal Medical Waste Tracking Act (Strict rules on medical waste transportation)
1991 – FMWT Act expires. States adopt regulatory burden.
Present Day – Advancements in biomedical waste processing, including medical waste transfer by mail.
© 2017 All Rights Reserved

8. Regulated Biomedical Waste vs Unregulated
Regulated Medical Waste
Biomedical Waste (Sharps, swaps, tissues, body fluids, parts)
Other Hazardous Waste (Pharmaceuticals, radioactive, chemical)
Unregulated Medical Waste
Other waste generated by health care facilities, including disposable tissues, paper waste, food waste, etc.
This accounts for 85% of all health care waste, or about 5 million tons per year.
© 2017 All Rights Reserved

9. © 2017 All Rights Reserved 888-641-6131 www.medprodisposal.com
Risk to Human Health
Needle sticks (800,000 per year)
Nurses, doctors, housekeepers, janitors, recycling employees, general public
Microorganisms
Poisoning from bio toxins
Contaminated drinking water and environment
© 2017 All Rights Reserved

10. On-Site vs Off-Site Treatment
On-Site: Limited to large, well-funded facilities (high cost, regulation)
Off-Site: Cost effective. Third-party vendors own and maintain equipment and assume regulatory burden.
© 2017 All Rights Reserved

11. Types of Off-Site Biomedical Waste Management
Truck Services – Biomedical waste is packaged in special containers, then hauled away to a dedicated disposal facility.
Mail-Back or Box Services – Biomedical waste is shipped via USPS. Generally most cost-effective.
© 2017 All Rights Reserved

12. Five Biomedical Waste Management Options
Incineration – Once the method of choice. Still the only method for human/animal tissues and body parts.
Autoclaving – Steam treatment. Once treated, waste can be disposed of normally in solid-waste landfills.
Microwaving – High-powered microwave renders waste inert. Can then be disposed of normally.
Chemical – Works for some biomedical waste but mostly for chemical waste.
Biological – Uses enzymes. Still experimental.
© 2017 All Rights Reserved

13. Best Practices for Biomedical Waste Management
Know the Laws – EPA, DOT, OSHA, DEA.
Classify Correctly – Don’t mix with non-hazardous waste.
Separate by Type – Sharps, pathological, non-hazardous, chemical, pharma.
Use the Right Containers – Certified cardboard boxes, tubs, or even locked up.
Prepare for Shipment – Follow DOT regs. Label. Store in secure, dry area.
Correct Documentation – Correct documents accompany each container.
Color Code – Right waste in right color container.
Hire the Right Partner – Right vendor for regs, hazards, type, insurance level.
© 2017 All Rights Reserved

14. Color Coding of Medical Waste
Red – Sharps (puncture-proof containers)
Red – Biomedical waste (non-sharps in red biohazard bags/containers)
Yellow – Trace chemo waste
Black – Hazardous pharmaceutical waste
Blue – Non-hazardous pharmaceutical waste
Radioactive Symbol – Radioactive wastes like fluorine-18
© 2017 All Rights Reserved

15. Who Creates Biomedical Waste?
Physician Practices
Funeral Homes
Retail Health Clinics
Hospitals
Dental Offices
Commercial Offices
Urgent Care Clinics
Commercial Buildings
Veterinary Practices
Medical Research Labs
Nursing Homes
Home Health Care
Home Infusion Situations
© 2017 All Rights Reserved

16. Biomedical Waste Resources
EPA Map – List of local and state regulating bodies and programs.
MedPro Waste Disposal – Low-cost, fully compliant pickup, transportation, treatment, and disposal.
WHO Manual – 308 pages on safe management of health care waste.
EPA safe sharps disposal document.
Waste Savings Calculator.
© 2017 All Rights Reserved

17. © 2017 All Rights Reserved 888-641-6131 www.medprodisposal.com
Conclusion
Biomedical waste is potentially infectious.
AKA: medical waste, clinical waste, biohazardous, RMW
Types: Sharps, infectious waste, pathological waste
1 million tons per year
800,000 needle sticks per year (per NIOSH)
On-Site or Off-Site Treatment
Incinerate, autoclave, microwave
Know the laws, package, and color-code correctly
© 2017 All Rights Reserved