Universities & Medical Waste

University students in scientific laboratory

Why Safe Storage & Disposal of Waste Is Crucial College campuses around the United States provide students with a wealth of opportunities to learn, grow and discover what path they wish to take for their future. But these institutions must also ensure that they are providing a healthy and safe environment for all students, staff…

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What Are OSHA Standards for BBP Exposure?

Microscopic illustration of e. coli bacteria in blood

Why Having a Control Plan is Imperative Healthcare workers are continually at risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens (BBP) and other potentially infectious materials (OPIM). Healthcare facilities are required to have a plan in place to not only prevent exposure but also to properly manage and react to an incident when accidental exposure occurs. OSHA…

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How Medical Waste Management Impacts Infection Control

Up-close Illustration of pathogens

Can Your Facility Reduce the Risk? All healthcare organizations generate medical waste–but did you know that the flow of that waste through your facility can have a significant impact on infection control? When you think about the journey of regulated medical waste (RMW) throughout a hospital, physician’s office, surgery center, laboratory and other healthcare facilities,…

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What Are the Eight Categories of Medical Waste?

Vials of blood samples

Are You Handling Them Correctly? Healthcare facilities of all kinds generate medical waste-whether you’re managing a hospital, clinic, surgery center, veterinarian’s office, funeral home or even a med-spa, medical waste is something that demands specific handling, storage and disposal. Understanding the different categories is crucial to ensure you are following compliance mandates and protecting your…

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Are Expired Inhalers Medical Waste?

A hand wearing a white glove holding an inhaler

Steps to Safe Disposal For millions of people around the world, inhalers are a necessity. Those who have asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and other respiratory conditions use them on a daily basis. And although these medications/devices may seem innocuous, it’s important that patients understand that many types of inhalers are considered hazardous medical…

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How to Dispose of Opioids in Home Health Care

Loaded syringe and opioid pills

5 Steps to Take to Ensure Safe Disposal The opioid crisis in the United States continues to grow–with hundreds of thousands of deaths resulting from overdose each year. According to research, the USA, although only representing a little less than five percent of the population across the globe, consumes nearly 80% of the world’s opioids.…

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What Are the Key Components of Medical Waste Chain of Custody?

Rows of red biohazardous medical waste bins

Ensure Compliance By Following These Protocols The chain of custody in medical waste is a systematic process that tracks the handling, transportation and disposal of medical waste from its point of generation to its disposal. This process is designed to ensure that each medical waste generator and disposal provider is within compliance with local, state…

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How to Avoid Red Bag Waste Violations

Medical infectious waste in red waste bag

Key Strategies to Ensure You Are Compliant Proper medical waste disposal is crucial to maintaining a safe and compliant facility. Red bag waste or regulated medical waste, requires special handling to ensure the safety of healthcare workers, patients, the community and the environment. Violations in red bag waste disposal can result in hefty fines and…

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Medical Waste: Are You A Large Quantity Generator?

Large hospital building

Know Your EPA Category to Ensure Compliant Disposal When it comes to medical waste, healthcare facilities are categorized by the amount of waste they generate– an important component to proper disposal of hazardous waste. These categories establish the mandates and regulations for proper collection, storage and disposal of all waste generated, so it’s crucial for…

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The Dangers of Improper Medical Waste Disposal

A used syringe in a foaming wave on the beach

Irresponsible Disposal Puts Public Health at Risk Medical waste by its very nature can be dangerous to anyone that comes in contact with it. But when it’s improperly disposed of, the risks become much greater, especially to public health and the environment. All organizations who generate medical waste of any kind are responsible for disposing…

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