Accept

Medical Waste Disposal

Methods
Posted by
Dawn DeVroom on Tue, September 13, 2022



MEDICAL WASTE DISPOSAL requires a specialized level of care. 
Toxicity concerns are considerable when it comes to managing medical
waste, but so are the sheer number of waste types found in facilities that
typically produce this type of waste. 

As a medical waste generator, you are responsible for managing all

aspects of your waste, from the moment it is generated to its final disposal.
Not doing so will put you in jeopardy of violating the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act (RCRA) and may result in substantial fines and penalties. 
Disposing is more than simply driving the waste to the landfill, however.
Certain medical waste must be treated before it is properly disposed of, while
other items can be recycled to help promote your institution’s sustainability
efforts. 

Below we’ll explore these medical waste disposal methods, as well as what
you need to know about resources available that can help you properly
dispose of your medical waste.

Medical Waste Types

 
 There are several types of medical waste. While some are hazardous, others
are non-hazardous. However, each waste type may have its own set of
requirements for disposal. Even the volume of the waste may determine how
it is disposed of.  

If you manage a hospital, research facility, pharmacy, blood

blank, DENTAL office, nursing home or other type of healthcare institution in
the United States, you know the importance of proper medical waste disposal.
Knowing your disposal requirements begins with recognizing the type of waste
that you have on-hand.
Here is a list of different categories medical waste typically falls under.

Chemical Waste
Chemical waste is common in medical facilities and includes:

 Cleaners and disinfectants like ammonia, phthalates, glycol ethers,

glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde
 Laboratory chemicals like acids, peroxides, methanol, acetone,
hydroxides and isopropanol
 Pesticides like carbaryl, glyphosate and pyrethrins

 Industrial paints that include volatile organic compounds

 Chemicals found in IV bags and tubing like PVCs, dioxin and phthalates
 Brominated flame retardants found in items like hospital beds, waiting
room chairs and hospital privacy curtains
Chemical waste disposal must be thoughtfully considered to avoid
devastating effects on waterways, soil, wildlife and human life. 
Laboratory Waste
Laboratory waste is often found in hospitals and university labs, but also
common in research facilities. Laboratory waste disposal can involve
discarding hypodermic needles, biohazards, drugs, mixtures and solutions,
and cleaning agents. This waste may come in liquid, solid or compressed gas
form.
While some lab waste is disposed of through various treatment methods,
some waste like ethyl alcohol, xylene and formalin can be recycled, distilled or
filtered.

Pharmaceutical Waste
Some pharmaceutical waste is considered hazardous based on its ignitability,
corrosivity, reactivity and toxicity. Listed hazardous wastes include a variety of
drugs, from epinephrine to nitroglycerin and many chemotherapy agents.

Chemotherapy Waste
Chemotherapy waste includes controlled substances like morphine and
hydrocodone, and trace chemotherapy waste like IV bags, tubing, vials and
syringes. Bulk chemotherapy waste are drugs that do not meet the threshold
for being considered “empty” by the RCRA, as well as items that are used in
the event of a spill or extremely contaminated personal protective equipment
(PPE).

Dental Waste
Examples of dental waste include mercury, dental amalgams used for fillings
and x-ray developer chemicals. Lead is also used in dental offices as foil for x-
ray packets, x-ray protective aprons and boxes for storing x-ray film.
Biomedical Waste
Infectious biomedical waste is a concern in different types of medical facilities,
from hospitals to dental offices. Blood-saturated gauze, swabs and
compresses are common, as are sharps waste. 

Other types of biohazardous waste include body fluids, pathological waste,

body parts, organs, tissues, blood products and human blood. Handing these
potentially infectious items with care are important to avoid infectious
diseases.

Non-Hazardous Medical Waste

The majority of healthcare waste (85%) is not classified as hazardous,
according to the World Health Organization. Examples of non-hazardous
medical waste include plastic packaging, clean glass and plastic, paper and
cardboard, and office products. In California, aerosol cans are not considered
hazardous waste as long as they are completely depleted.
Non-Medical Waste
Although some waste items aren’t exclusive to medical environments, they
are still often found in physician’s offices, hospital, labs, clinics and testing
facilities. You are still required to properly dispose of this waste, which may
include developing a plan to take care of items like kitchen waste, solid waste
and universal hazards like pesticides, cleaning fluids and batteries.

Electronic waste is another common type of waste found in facilities, and in

California, many types of e-waste are considered hazardous. Examples of
electronic waste include lab equipment, computers, servers, tablets and
televisions.
 

Medical Waste Treatment Methods

 
Before any waste is disposed of in landfills, it must be determined whether
that waste is safe. There are several treatment technologies that sterilize
medical waste before it is disposed of, effectively making it less hazardous.

Treatment of medical waste helps ensure infectious waste, potentially

infectious agents or toxic items do not seep into the soil or nearby water
sources at landfills and create a risk to the environment and the general
public.

Below are some of the treatments being used today.

Autoclaving
Autoclaving provides sterilization through steam. Though autoclaving is a
good solution for sterilizing microbiological wastes, it is not an appropriate
solution for other types of waste such as pathological and toxic chemicals.

Chemical Disinfection
Chemical disinfection is usually reserved for chemical and liquid waste.
Chlorine is a common chemical used during this process. The types of
microorganisms in the waste and how contaminated the product is determines
whether this is an effective choice for sterilization.

Microwaving
Irradiative sterilization uses the same technology as microwaves to disinfect
waste. Waste is shredded and mixed with water. The waste is then heated so
that all biological elements are neutralized.

Incineration
Incineration typically used as a disposal method for pathological waste and
pharmaceutical waste. During this process, medical waste incinerators reach
temperatures as hot as 2,000 degrees F. Trace chemotherapy waste is
permitted under California law to undergo the incineration process. 
 

Where Medical Waste Gets Disposed Of

 

Knowing where to dispose of medical waste can be complicated since some

medical waste is hazardous while other types are non-hazardous. Guidance in
your disposal options is key since making a mistake can put you in jeopardy of
violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), OSHA rules,
California Department of Public Health rules, Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) regulations and California state environmental laws.

Drop-Off Sites
Drop-off facilities are designed to make the disposal of medical waste easy. In
California, there are several sites available for different types of medical
waste, from sharps needles to pharmaceutical medications. 

This option offers convenience, but most locations on the CalRecycle

site only accept limited types of medical waste. While these sites can be a
great choice for businesses that generate small amounts of regulated medical
waste, many only accept waste generated in the residential sector. Therefore,
it’s important to check with that drop-off site before going to ensure it will
accept commercial waste.
Treatment, Storage And Disposal Facilities (TSDF)
If your business generates significant amounts of medical waste and waste
that is not accepted at drop-off sites, it’s likely your waste will need to be
disposed of at a treatment, storage and disposal facility (TSDF).

In order for that waste to get to treatment facilities it will need to be taken by a
licensed hazardous waste transporter if that waste is potentially harmful to the
environment and human health.
Hazardous waste disposal companies have distinct advantages. Perhaps one
of the greatest is that they have access to and can transport your medical
waste to the appropriate medical waste treatment facility that will accept it.
This includes out-of-state facilities licensed to accept certain types of waste. 

The best medical disposal companies will also use sampling and testing
methods to identify any unknown wastes to ensure you are meeting all
appropriate federal and state regulations. If you regularly generate waste, they
can also provide schedule pickups.

Landfills Or Incinerators
As we mentioned above, incineration is a popular way to dispose of some
types of medical waste, including pathological waste and pharmaceutical
waste.
 If your medical waste has been chemically treated or sanitized, it may also be
disposed of in a landfill. Many of these landfills will have protections in place
to keep waste from seeping into the soil around it. The design of a landfill may
include a liner, a leachate collection system and cover, as well as regular
monitoring of methane levels and groundwater.

Medical Waste Recycling Facilities

Certain kinds of medical waste can be disposed of through recycling. Although
most items one would think of as “medical” must go through special
procedures for disposal, there are several items found in medical,
pharmaceutical and medical research facilities that can simply be recycled. 

For example, items commonly found in the healthcare industry include:

 Office paper and cardboard

 Aluminum and steel cans and other food containers

 Glass bottles

 Plastic containers

 Newspapers
In fact, the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION points out that of all the waste
produced by health care facilities and activities, 85% of that waste is non-
hazardous. 
In addition to the solid waste items mentioned above, several items found in
healthcare facilities are considered universal hazards, such as:

 Fluorescent lights

 Pesticides
 Batteries 

 Lamps

 Electronic devices

 CRT glass

 Non-empty aerosol cans

Though many of these items are recyclable, they cannot simply be thrown into
a recycling bin and instead require proper sorting and removal by an
experienced MEDICAL WASTE DISPOSAL VENDOR. 
 

Medical Waste Disposal And Management Services

 

Knowing the proper disposal methods for each type of medical waste that
your facility generates is critical to ensuring that you meet all waste disposal
guidelines. 

Hazardous waste, certain controlled substances and even dental waste

streams all require very specific disposal methods to ensure hazardous
chemicals and substances do not cause devastating effects. Even the same
type of waste may require different disposal methods depending on the
quantity.
It’s also important to note that your particular substance disposal procedures
may differ from another organization’s, even when disposing of the same
substance, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). 
 That’s why it is important to work with a trusted and experienced medical
waste disposal provider to ensure your waste streams are disposed of
properly and according to your specific requirements. 
When choosing a medical waste handling and disposal partner, look for a
company that:

 Identifies wastes using sampling and testing methods

 Offers prompt pickups and scheduled pickups to meet your needs

based on your waste volume

 Handles all required information and paperwork associated with your

waste

 Transports waste to medical waste facilities

It’s also essential that a company you choose has extensive experience in
medical waste management. There are many hazardous waste disposal
vendors in the market. Not all hazardous waste disposal companies have
experience in medical waste disposal.
Medical waste disposal is a very specialized field and requires the utmost care
and experience to ensure that you accurately identify your waste stream,
characterize it and properly transport it … all while avoiding any health
hazards.

Our article, Choosing The Right Vendor For Medical Waste Disposal Los
Angeles, explores the experience level that your waste disposal company
should have, as well as how you can ensure your transporter is registered and
legal.
5 Waste Disposal Methods You Need To Know
There are many methods of waste disposal, some more high-tech than others. Each has its own
associated pros and cons, ranging from efficiency to cost-effectiveness and even how
environmentally-friendly they are. 

For businesses, it’s worth maintaining a working knowledge of waste disposal methods in case
your UK waste solutions policies need changing after discovering you’d find another method
advantageous. Here are five waste disposal methods you need to know. 

1. Recycling
2. Plasma Gasification
3. Composting
4. Incineration
5. Sanitary Landfill

1. Recycling
Recycling is one of the most common forms of waste disposal. With landfill being so expensive now,
it’s much more financially viable for businesses to recycle their waste. 

Recycling is the process of separating waste into constituent materials and then reusing those
materials. For example, a used plastic bottle can be remade into a new plastic bottle, thereby
reducing the need for new materials, easing our consumption of raw materials and lowering the
amount of waste that either goes to landfill. 

It also reduces the amount of plastic and other recyclable materials that have the potential to end up
in polluting natural environments, such as rivers and seas. This is a vitally important aspect of
recycling, as every year around 8 million tonnes of plastic ends up in the oceans.

Recycling is the perfect way for companies to lower their environmental impact and even move
towards a zero waste policy. It’s one of the most crucial applications when improving your
business’ waste management plan, involving the utilisation of proper waste separation, waste
auditing and the right type of waste disposal machinery. 

For example, machinery such as portable compactors make recycling waste simple and effective.
The benefits of a portable compactor are multiple, helping to create a flexible, simple and cost-
effective waste management system that’s easy to use for all operators. 

2. Plasma Gasification
Plasma gasification is one of the more high-tech ways of dealing with plastic waste. While it requires
more energy than, say, sending waste to landfill, it’s an effective way of reducing the size of waste
and making sure that we’re not relying on landfills for waste disposal.
The process of plasma gasification works by shredding plastic, which is then transferred to a furnace
heated to roughly 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit. This is then mixed with oxygen and steam, which
effectively works to vaporise 75 to 85% of the waste. 

What’s left is a mixture of gases known as ‘syngases’ (as they’re synthetic natural gas), which is
then separated from the waste that’s left. That waste is then put into another furnace, heated to an
incredibly 18,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Because it’s so hot, the leftover waste gets separated into its
constituent atomic elements.

Whatever is left is converted to slag - tightly-bound solid blocks of waste that can be used in
construction. This means that plasma gasification is a potential choice for large organisations
pursuing zero waste policies. 

With countries like the US generating around 250 million tonnes of waste each year, being able to
vaporise into usable components may be a great idea environmentally. However, it’s a process
that’s highly energy-intensive and quite costly. It’s also not widely practised, with only a small
number of sites around the world offering it. 

As advancements in technology have made plasma gasification easier to implement, it could be a

key waste disposal method in the future. 

3. Composting
Composting has been a traditional waste disposal method for many years, allowing organic waste to
be reused to fertilise plants and crops. Essentially, organic waste is decomposed by microbes within
a sealed container. These are regularly found in the gardens of avid gardeners.

However, in many cases composting is done on a much larger scale. With landfill tax in the
UK currently at £94.15 per tonne, it makes financial sense for organisations who generate a lot of
organic waste to make that waste more useful, rather than just leaving it to rot. 

While adding composted organic materials to soil greatly improves fertility, by:

 Reducing the need for artificial fertilisers.

 Increasing crop yield.
 Reducing erosion risk.
 Increased soil microorganism count. 
 Nutrient recycling. 

While the process is slow and does take a lot of land to implement, it does have its advantages. For
example, it’s possible for larger organisations who generate a lot of organic waste to produce
compost themselves on-site and then sell it, providing a new revenue stream. 

4. Incineration
Slightly similar to plasma gasification, incineration heats waste to transform it into base components,
assorted gases and, more often than not, ash. Waste volume is reduced by about 90% and
hazardous or toxic wastes can actually be gotten rid of through combustion. 

Another advantage is that the heat produced can be used as an energy source, supplying power to
turbines. This is known as Waste-to-Energy, which is increasingly used (there are a large amount
of these types of incinerators in the UK), but quite controversial.

Similarly, some types of ash produced happen to be rich in nutrients (if the waste burnt was organic -
similar to how some farmers burn fields to encourage new growth). This ash can be used in
hydroponic farming. 

While relatively inexpensive, incineration can cause atmospheric pollution, depending on the type of
waste combusted. Additionally, some incinerators are either old or poorly-designed, allowing for
pollution levels to increase. However, in some cases, large filters can be used to check this pollution.

There are many arguments that see incineration as an outdated waste disposal method, as in most
cases it:

 Creates carbon emissions.

 Harms recycling programs which are more eco-friendly.
 Lessens the efficiency of circular economies.
 Harms local air quality.

According to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, the majority of waste currently
incinerated is actually recyclable:

Of approximately 13.1 million tonnes of residual waste generated by household sources in England
in 2017, around 7 million tonnes could be categorised as readily recyclable, 3.5 million tonnes as
potentially recyclable, 1.6 million tonnes as potentially substitutable, and 1.0 million tonnes as
difficult to recycle or substitute.

To create a greener economy, it’s wiser to focus on recycling programs rather than incineration. 

5. Sanitary Landfill
Using a sanitary landfill (or more commonly referred to as just a ‘landfill’), involves dumping waste
into a predetermined location designed for waste disposal. Landfills contain a protective layer which
prevents any chemicals or contaminants from seeping into groundwater.

Each layer of waste is compacted and covered with a layer of earth, preferably with non-porous soil.
In the UK, disused quarries make for popular landfills. In 2018, 23% of the UK’s waste went to
landfill.

One downside is that landfills are seen as outdated, as simply burying waste doesn’t effectively deal
with the waste problem. Landfills also become full over time, have the potential for environmental
damage and require a lot of skilled manpower to maintain them. 
If you’re more interested in recycling over incineration or plasma gasification, you can check out
some of our incredibly useful machinery, such as portable compactors.

However, this is just one part of the entire waste solutions and management process. If you're
looking to enhance this process and cut your costs, read our latest guide to find out how.

How to Improve Waste

Management Strategy
From conducting waste audits to developing management strategies, this guide will help you answer
some key questions regarding how you can optimise your entire waste management process, from
production to disposal. 

To download your free PDF copy, just click the button below.

Medical Waste Disposal

Methods
Posted by
Dawn DeVroom on Tue, September 13, 2022



MEDICAL WASTE DISPOSAL requires a specialized level of care. 
Toxicity concerns are considerable when it comes to managing medical
waste, but so are the sheer number of waste types found in facilities that
typically produce this type of waste. 

As a medical waste generator, you are responsible for managing all

aspects of your waste, from the moment it is generated to its final disposal.
Not doing so will put you in jeopardy of violating the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act (RCRA) and may result in substantial fines and penalties. 
Disposing is more than simply driving the waste to the landfill, however.
Certain medical waste must be treated before it is properly disposed of, while
other items can be recycled to help promote your institution’s sustainability
efforts. 
 Below we’ll explore these medical waste disposal methods, as well as what
you need to know about resources available that can help you properly
dispose of your medical waste.

Medical Waste Types

 

There are several types of medical waste. While some are hazardous, others
are non-hazardous. However, each waste type may have its own set of
requirements for disposal. Even the volume of the waste may determine how
it is disposed of.  

If you manage a hospital, research facility, pharmacy, blood

blank, DENTAL office, nursing home or other type of healthcare institution in
the United States, you know the importance of proper medical waste disposal.
Knowing your disposal requirements begins with recognizing the type of waste
that you have on-hand.
Here is a list of different categories medical waste typically falls under.

Chemical Waste
Chemical waste is common in medical facilities and includes:

 Cleaners and disinfectants like ammonia, phthalates, glycol ethers,

glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde
 Laboratory chemicals like acids, peroxides, methanol, acetone,
hydroxides and isopropanol
 Pesticides like carbaryl, glyphosate and pyrethrins

 Industrial paints that include volatile organic compounds

 Chemicals found in IV bags and tubing like PVCs, dioxin and phthalates
 Brominated flame retardants found in items like hospital beds, waiting
room chairs and hospital privacy curtains
Chemical waste disposal must be thoughtfully considered to avoid
devastating effects on waterways, soil, wildlife and human life. 
Laboratory Waste
Laboratory waste is often found in hospitals and university labs, but also
common in research facilities. Laboratory waste disposal can involve
discarding hypodermic needles, biohazards, drugs, mixtures and solutions,
and cleaning agents. This waste may come in liquid, solid or compressed gas
form.
While some lab waste is disposed of through various treatment methods,
some waste like ethyl alcohol, xylene and formalin can be recycled, distilled or
filtered.

Pharmaceutical Waste
Some pharmaceutical waste is considered hazardous based on its ignitability,
corrosivity, reactivity and toxicity. Listed hazardous wastes include a variety of
drugs, from epinephrine to nitroglycerin and many chemotherapy agents.

Chemotherapy Waste
Chemotherapy waste includes controlled substances like morphine and
hydrocodone, and trace chemotherapy waste like IV bags, tubing, vials and
syringes. Bulk chemotherapy waste are drugs that do not meet the threshold
for being considered “empty” by the RCRA, as well as items that are used in
the event of a spill or extremely contaminated personal protective equipment
(PPE).

Dental Waste
Examples of dental waste include mercury, dental amalgams used for fillings
and x-ray developer chemicals. Lead is also used in dental offices as foil for x-
ray packets, x-ray protective aprons and boxes for storing x-ray film.

Biomedical Waste
Infectious biomedical waste is a concern in different types of medical facilities,
from hospitals to dental offices. Blood-saturated gauze, swabs and
compresses are common, as are sharps waste. 

Other types of biohazardous waste include body fluids, pathological waste,

body parts, organs, tissues, blood products and human blood. Handing these
potentially infectious items with care are important to avoid infectious
diseases.

Non-Hazardous Medical Waste

The majority of healthcare waste (85%) is not classified as hazardous,
according to the World Health Organization. Examples of non-hazardous
medical waste include plastic packaging, clean glass and plastic, paper and
cardboard, and office products. In California, aerosol cans are not considered
hazardous waste as long as they are completely depleted.
Non-Medical Waste
Although some waste items aren’t exclusive to medical environments, they
are still often found in physician’s offices, hospital, labs, clinics and testing
facilities. You are still required to properly dispose of this waste, which may
include developing a plan to take care of items like kitchen waste, solid waste
and universal hazards like pesticides, cleaning fluids and batteries.

Electronic waste is another common type of waste found in facilities, and in

California, many types of e-waste are considered hazardous. Examples of
electronic waste include lab equipment, computers, servers, tablets and
televisions.
 

Medical Waste Treatment Methods

 

Before any waste is disposed of in landfills, it must be determined whether

that waste is safe. There are several treatment technologies that sterilize
medical waste before it is disposed of, effectively making it less hazardous.

Treatment of medical waste helps ensure infectious waste, potentially

infectious agents or toxic items do not seep into the soil or nearby water
sources at landfills and create a risk to the environment and the general
public.

Below are some of the treatments being used today.

Autoclaving
Autoclaving provides sterilization through steam. Though autoclaving is a
good solution for sterilizing microbiological wastes, it is not an appropriate
solution for other types of waste such as pathological and toxic chemicals.

Chemical Disinfection
Chemical disinfection is usually reserved for chemical and liquid waste.
Chlorine is a common chemical used during this process. The types of
microorganisms in the waste and how contaminated the product is determines
whether this is an effective choice for sterilization.

Microwaving
Irradiative sterilization uses the same technology as microwaves to disinfect
waste. Waste is shredded and mixed with water. The waste is then heated so
that all biological elements are neutralized.

Incineration
Incineration typically used as a disposal method for pathological waste and
pharmaceutical waste. During this process, medical waste incinerators reach
temperatures as hot as 2,000 degrees F. Trace chemotherapy waste is
permitted under California law to undergo the incineration process. 
 

Where Medical Waste Gets Disposed Of

 

Knowing where to dispose of medical waste can be complicated since some

medical waste is hazardous while other types are non-hazardous. Guidance in
your disposal options is key since making a mistake can put you in jeopardy of
violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), OSHA rules,
California Department of Public Health rules, Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) regulations and California state environmental laws.

Drop-Off Sites
Drop-off facilities are designed to make the disposal of medical waste easy. In
California, there are several sites available for different types of medical
waste, from sharps needles to pharmaceutical medications. 
This option offers convenience, but most locations on the CalRecycle
site only accept limited types of medical waste. While these sites can be a
great choice for businesses that generate small amounts of regulated medical
waste, many only accept waste generated in the residential sector. Therefore,
it’s important to check with that drop-off site before going to ensure it will
accept commercial waste.
Treatment, Storage And Disposal Facilities (TSDF)
If your business generates significant amounts of medical waste and waste
that is not accepted at drop-off sites, it’s likely your waste will need to be
disposed of at a treatment, storage and disposal facility (TSDF).

In order for that waste to get to treatment facilities it will need to be taken by a
licensed hazardous waste transporter if that waste is potentially harmful to the
environment and human health.

Hazardous waste disposal companies have distinct advantages. Perhaps one

of the greatest is that they have access to and can transport your medical
waste to the appropriate medical waste treatment facility that will accept it.
This includes out-of-state facilities licensed to accept certain types of waste. 

The best medical disposal companies will also use sampling and testing
methods to identify any unknown wastes to ensure you are meeting all
appropriate federal and state regulations. If you regularly generate waste, they
can also provide schedule pickups.

Landfills Or Incinerators
As we mentioned above, incineration is a popular way to dispose of some
types of medical waste, including pathological waste and pharmaceutical
waste.
 If your medical waste has been chemically treated or sanitized, it may also be
disposed of in a landfill. Many of these landfills will have protections in place
to keep waste from seeping into the soil around it. The design of a landfill may
include a liner, a leachate collection system and cover, as well as regular
monitoring of methane levels and groundwater.

Medical Waste Recycling Facilities

Certain kinds of medical waste can be disposed of through recycling. Although
most items one would think of as “medical” must go through special
procedures for disposal, there are several items found in medical,
pharmaceutical and medical research facilities that can simply be recycled. 

For example, items commonly found in the healthcare industry include:

 Office paper and cardboard

 Aluminum and steel cans and other food containers

 Glass bottles

 Plastic containers

 Newspapers
In fact, the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION points out that of all the waste
produced by health care facilities and activities, 85% of that waste is non-
hazardous. 
In addition to the solid waste items mentioned above, several items found in
healthcare facilities are considered universal hazards, such as:

 Fluorescent lights

 Pesticides

 Batteries 

 Lamps

 Electronic devices

 CRT glass

 Non-empty aerosol cans

Though many of these items are recyclable, they cannot simply be thrown into
a recycling bin and instead require proper sorting and removal by an
experienced MEDICAL WASTE DISPOSAL VENDOR. 
 

 
 Medical Waste Disposal And Management Services
 

Knowing the proper disposal methods for each type of medical waste that
your facility generates is critical to ensuring that you meet all waste disposal
guidelines. 

Hazardous waste, certain controlled substances and even dental waste

streams all require very specific disposal methods to ensure hazardous
chemicals and substances do not cause devastating effects. Even the same
type of waste may require different disposal methods depending on the
quantity.
It’s also important to note that your particular substance disposal procedures
may differ from another organization’s, even when disposing of the same
substance, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). 

That’s why it is important to work with a trusted and experienced medical

waste disposal provider to ensure your waste streams are disposed of
properly and according to your specific requirements. 
When choosing a medical waste handling and disposal partner, look for a
company that:

 Identifies wastes using sampling and testing methods

 Offers prompt pickups and scheduled pickups to meet your needs

based on your waste volume

 Handles all required information and paperwork associated with your

waste

 Transports waste to medical waste facilities

It’s also essential that a company you choose has extensive experience in
medical waste management. There are many hazardous waste disposal
vendors in the market. Not all hazardous waste disposal companies have
experience in medical waste disposal.
Medical waste disposal is a very specialized field and requires the utmost care
and experience to ensure that you accurately identify your waste stream,
characterize it and properly transport it … all while avoiding any health
hazards.

Our article, Choosing The Right Vendor For Medical Waste Disposal Los
Angeles, explores the experience level that your waste disposal company
should have, as well as how you can ensure your transporter is registered and
legal.