Read on to learn everything you need to know about bio-hazardous waste disposal.
With COVID-19 roaming around, people are currently expressing great concern for how illnesses get transferred, and to keep illnesses from spreading, it helps greatly to dispose of biohazardous waste the right way. So what does it take to properly dispose of this kind of waste? Read on to learn everything you need to know about bio-hazardous waste disposal.
Defining Bio-Hazardous Waste
Medical waste doesn’t have a universal definition, but the manner in which it is disposed of is similar. Any medical waste that can potentially infect others will be given special regulations regarding how it can be gathered, transported, and disposed of.
Bio-hazardous medical waste is a term typically used in tandem with other terms, like “regulated medical waste” and “infectious waste”. To define bio-hazardous waste, it’s a type of waste that is saturated with substances that have the potential to be infectious, such as blood, and capable of infecting/bringing harm to humans.
Manner in Which Bio-Hazardous Waste is Regulated
There are regulations that get followed to minimize the chances of getting hurt or infected while handling bio-hazardous waste. These regulations are put in place by many companies, including the DOT, FDA, OSHA, CDC, and EPA.
As an example, OSHA has many regulations in effect regarding the safest way to handle bio-hazardous waste in order to reduce the chances of bloodborne pathogens spreading and infecting people. Once the waste is gathered, it has to get packaged the right way, in accordance with the regulations set by the DOT. This helps maximize the safety of the staff handling the waste.
Regulations get more specific at the state level. As an example, some states further categorize bio-hazardous waste, giving this umbrella term additional sub-categories, like pathological waste and chemotherapeutic waste.
How Bio-Hazardous Waste Gets Treated
There are two treatment methods that are most common for disposing of bio-hazardous waste:
- Incineration: With this method, waste gets brought to incredibly high temperatures, causing it to combust or burn. After that, any leftover ash goes to landfills for proper disposal. Some wastes, like chemotherapeutic and pathological wastes, need to be separated from other waste products to make sure they are destroyed properly.
- Autoclaving: Using this method, waste gets put through a timed steaming procedure that is high in pressure and temperature. This neutralizes any of the potentially infectious agents in the waste, making it safer for disposal.
Call AEG Environmental for Bio-Hazardous Waste Management Services!
AEG Environmental has the skills, resources, and training to solve any environmental issue you may face. Our team has over 20 years of experience transporting and disposing of non-hazardous, hazardous, infectious, and universal wastes. We welcome projects big and small and pride ourselves in our exceptional customer service. For more information about our hazardous waste disposal and transport services, please contact us today!