Disposing of Medical Waste: What You Need to Know
If you are a healthcare facility owner, medical professional, or hospital staff you should be familiar with the rules and regulations related to disposing of medical waste. This is because failure to comply with local, state, and federal laws can lead to hefty penalties, financial loss, and damage to brand reputation.
Moreover, the management and disposal of medical waste shouldn’t be taken lightly as it can cause environmental pollution and affect the health of people inside and outside medical facilities. It can range from something as small as a syringe, or bandages to contaminated equipment, IV tube, hazardous medications, etc.
If your medical facility is located in Michigan, you should seek the services such as medical waste disposal in Michigan from reputed companies.
Understanding Medical Waste
Medical waste, according to medical experts, has a fairly broad definition. Any material discarded after providing medical services at research facilities, dental clinics, laboratories, veterinary hospitals, pharmacies, or any other healthcare facilities can be termed as medical waste.
Another way to describe medical waste is anything that is contaminated by blood, fluids, and infectious materials from a patient under treatment in a healthcare facility.
There are different types of medical waste which include bio-hazardous waste, biomedical waste, pharmaceutical waste, radioactive waste, sharps, needles, etc. Regardless of the definition and the types, disposing of medical waste should be the topmost priority.
Medical Waste Regulations
If you are in Michigan, it is important to know that medical waste is regulated by state environmental and health departments. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not have the authority to manage medical waste as the Medical Waste Tracking Act (MWTA) of 1988 expired in the year 1991. However, the generation, handling, storing, transportation, treatment procedures, and disposal mechanisms as part of the act, and EPA has guided states to develop their respective medical waste regulations.
Therefore, you should always contact the state environmental protection agency and state health agency to understand more about medical waste disposal in Michigan.
Medical Waste Management
Medical waste management and disposal generally consist of three stages; collection and segregation, storage and transportation, and treatment and disposal.
In the first stage, medical waste is collected and segregated at the point of origin. To achieve this goal, a different set of containers, generally color-coded such as red, yellow, black, and blue, are used to collect and segregate different categories of waste.
In the second stage, companies providing medical waste disposal in Michigan can help you with the safe handling, storage, and transportation of medical waste away from the public. Professional medical waste management companies will take care of the final stage as well, which includes the treatment and disposal of waste in the most effective manner.
Medical Waste Disposal in Michigan
Medical Waste Recovery (MWR) is one of the best companies for medical waste disposal in Michigan, helping hospitals, clinics, COVID facilities, schools, police stations, tattoo parlors, and other healthcare facilities. The team of professionals provides best-in-class services at affordable rates. For more details, contact us today.