With the dire need for health care in our society today, bio-medical waste is unavoidable. Bio-medical waste is any kind of waste that contains infectious materials generated during the treatment of humans or animals or even materials used during biological research. These materials include packaging items, bandages, infusion kits, cottonwool or sharps. Biomedical waste may be solid or liquid. 

According to WHO, in 2018, 85% of biomedical waste was infectious/hazardous. Infectious waste includes discarded blood, sharps, identifiable body parts (including those as a result of amputation), other human or animal tissue, used bandages and dressings, discarded gloves, other medical supplies that may have been in contact with blood and body fluids, and laboratory waste.

SHARPS.

Sharps are the most common form of bio-medical waste. These are considered to be any material with sharp points that can puncture the skin. An interesting fact to note is the fact that any discarded sharps are considered biomedical waste whether they are contaminated or not, due to the possibility of being contaminated with blood and their propensity to cause injury when not properly contained and disposed of. Examples of sharps include:

i) Needle – a very fine, slender, hollow piece of metal used to inject medication under the skin.

ii) Syringe – a device in which a needle is attached to inject medication into or withdraw fluid from the body.

iii) Lancet – instruments with a short, two-edged blade used to get drops of blood for testing. Lancets are commonly used in the treatment of diabetes.

iv) Auto injector, including epinephrine pens – syringe pre-filled with fluid medication designed to be self-injected into the body.

v) Infusion set – tubing system with a needle used to deliver drugs to the body.

vi) Connection needle – a needle that connects to a tube used to transfer fluids in and out of the body. 

When medical waste is not disposed of properly, it could leach into the groundwater affecting all our bodies as we drink the water. Animals could also pick up and even eat some of the medical waste and then spread illnesses to humans. Items that aren’t biodegradable, such as sharps, could harm humans and animals by sticking or cutting. Improper disposal of sharps, stands the risk of human beings becoming infected with a disease. Imagine a scenario where medical waste has been improperly disposed of in municipal waste and is transported to landfills. In such a case, the chances of harm to an individual increase.

Such institutions need to use a disposal company so that medical waste pollution is minimized, keeping our planet safer and our landfills less full. In some cases, waste is compacted or even shredded after it has been decontaminated. 

How is Biomedical waste treated?

Treatment for biomedical waste varies based on the type of waste. Sharps for example are treated differently than waste that contains chemotherapy and radiation drugs. Blood and other body fluids are also treated differently. There are five main technology options for treating biomedical waste include:

• Thermal processes; These use low and high heat systems to destroy organisms. 
• Chemical processes; These use chemicals that act as disinfectants. Some of these include peracetic acid, sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide.
• Mechanical processes; This process is done through compaction and shredding. Medical waste must be disinfected before it can be compacted or shredded. 
• Biological processes; This process uses biological enzymes that create biological reactions that decontaminate waste.
• Irradiation processes; These processes include treating the waste with ultraviolet or ionizing radiation.

The most important thing for hospital staff to do is throw medical waste out into the proper bins and disposed of it the right way. Here at NLS waste management, we can offer the best options for any institution to manage its biomedical waste. 

“The benefits of biomedical progress are obvious, clear and powerful. The hazards are much less appreciated.”

-Leon Kass