Can Medical Waste Be Eco-friendly?

medical-waste-disposal-practices
In the United States, more than $4 billion pounds of medical waste is produced annually. Medical waste consists of solids, liquids, sharps, and laboratory waste that are infectious or dangerous. The healthcare industry produces more waste than most industries in the United States. Since medical waste can pose a serious hazard to the general public, it is heavily regulated. The Medical Waste Tracking Act requires health care companies to comprehensively document all of its biohazard and chemical waste disposal practices.

The Importance Of Medical Waste Safety

medical waste safety
In every hospital or medical facility, there is an unseen potential problem lurking in the corners: medical waste. Medical waste is a broad term to imply any byproduct of a medical procedure, and it becomes a problem when it is improperly handled or disposed of. It is not a sexy subject, but a very important one because managing medical waste properly means maintaining human health and environmental integrity. The consequences to mismanaging medical waste can vary from a mild warning to widespread health problems caused by transferable diseases, environmental pollution and even possibly death.