What Is Involved in Biohazardous Waste Disposal Methods?

Before identifying the biohazardous waste disposal methods, it’s more appropriate first to define the biohazardous waste available in our surroundings. Biohazardous waste is also called biomedical waste. It can also be highly contagious and injurious to health. There are various types of biohazard waste as defined by the Hazard Awareness and Management Manual (HAMM) of the Environment Health & Safety (EHS.) These are as follows, animal waste, sharps waste or those from medical utensils such as needles and scalpels, microbiological waste, human blood and its components, human pathological waste, and human bodily fluids.

Biohazardous Waste Disposal Methods Stages of Disposal

There are three stages involved in biohazardous waste disposal methods. These concern the first stage which is packaging, classification, and storage. The second stage involves collection and transportation, and the third stage includes treatment and disposal.

The first stage in the proper handling of biohazard waste is to segregate them and put them into their corresponding containers. It includes multiple smaller tasks such as putting sharps in puncture-proof and taper-proof containers, and infectious waste has to be placed in leak-proof plastic bags that have the international infectious substance symbol.

The second stage of all biohazardous waste disposal methods is all about collection and transportation. The rule of thumb is that the producers of the waste must not allow the biological waste to accumulate without devising a plan for routine collection. For instance, it’s crucial to collect waste as frequently as possible. Containers must not be picked up unless they haveallthe proper labels. Carriers that transport the hazardous waste have to be registered with the waste regulation authority. The company handling the task must also possess a permit. The carriers must make sure that the vehicles are closed and locked.

The third stage involves treatment and disposal. For treatment, the most common method used is incineration. This method uses high temperature to kill all organic substances that are found in biohazard waste. Another method of biohazard waste treatment is autoclaving. An autoclave is a highly pressurized and steam-heated chamber that is used for sterilizing biomedical waste. One more treatment method is the use of bleach. In this method, certain chemicals are used to create a reaction on the chemicals of the biomedical waste making them gain or lose electrons which renders the waste less hazardous.

The Daniels Method

The Daniels method of hazardous waste treatment and disposal is cost-effective and includes an intelligent system for the facility that produces waste to have the appropriate quantity, size, and type of waste containers that are mainly required for it. The company uses an online waste classification software for pharmaceuticals to be segregated into waste-streams. There are also specialist collectors that segregate bulk chemotherapy from trace chemotherapy.

If your company is in search of a firm that handles hazardous waste treatment and disposal, look for the abovementioned qualities. First among them is compliance with stringent disposal regulations. It’s also necessary to look for a company that enables easy classification of hazardous wastes and cost reduction through proper segregation and reduced waste volume.