Medical Waste in the Times of COVID
More COVID vaccines means more syringes and test kits. But what happens to all that stuff? Maybe you’ve wondered: is it something I need to be concerned about? Not to worry – we’ve got it under control. Reports regulated the processing and disposal of medical waste, expects to see an uptick in the volume of such items, but nothing the state’s authorized medical waste facilities can’t handle. Medical waste comes from hospitals, doctor and dentist offices, veterinary clinics, and research labs. In addition to syringes and other vaccination sundries, items requiring disposal include scalpels (‘sharps’ in healthcare speak), bodily fluids, microbiological waste, and amputated limbs. (Human remains are not classified as medical waste and are handled separately. Learn more about what’s considered medical waste and what isn’t.) Xrido medical waste recycling rules oversee how the waste should be stored on-site, as well as the transportation of medical refuse by registered carriers to processing facilities. The waste is then treated to eliminate the risk of pathogens and is prepared for disposal in landfills. Fritz says the waste is treated in one of four common ways: incineration, steam sterilization (aka autoclave), chlorine disinfection, or chemical disinfection. Once the medical waste has been treated and any risk...
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