What is Medical Waste?

Medical waste is any solid or liquid material that is generated in the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals, in research pertaining thereto, or in the production or testing of biologicals. While there are many types of medical wastes, they can generally be divided into two categories: infectious and non-infectious.

Infectious medical wastes are those that contain pathogens and can cause infections in humans or animals. These include items such as sharps (needles, scalpels, etc.), cultures and stocks of infectious agents, body fluids (blood, urine, feces), and tissues. Non-infectious medical wastes are those that do not contain pathogens and cannot cause infections. These include items such as general waste (paper towels, gloves, gowns), radioactive materials, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals.

Medical waste can pose a serious threat to public health and the environment if it is not managed properly. Improper management of medical waste can lead to the spread of diseases and contamination of air, water, and soil. It is important to recycle medical waste whenever possible to reduce its volume and prevent it from ending up in landfills where it can cause environmental problems.

Importance of Medical Waste Recycle?

As the world’s population continues to grow, so does the amount of medical waste that is produced.

It is estimated that each person in the United States generates about 1.3 pounds of medical waste each year. This might not seem like a lot, but when you consider that there are more than 327 million people living in the United States, that adds up to a whole lot of medical waste!

Unfortunately, a large percentage of this medical waste ends up in landfills where it can leach harmful chemicals into the environment. This is why recycling medical waste is so important.

When medical waste is recycled, it is broken down into its component parts and used to create new products. For example, plastic from medical waste can be used to create new PETE bottles or recycled into carpeting or fabric for clothing.

Medical waste recycling not only helps to reduce environmental pollution, but it also conserves resources and saves money. In fact, it is estimated that recycling just one ton of medical waste can save $3,000 in disposal costs!

If you are looking for ways to help make a difference in the world, recycling your medical waste is a great place to start!

How does MyRecycler assist?

Before recycling any medical waste, check with us to see what items we accept. Some facilities may not accept certain types of medical waste, so it’s important to call ahead and find out.

When we’re ready to recycle the medical waste, we follow these steps:

1. Sort your medical waste into different categories. Common categories include sharps, pharmaceuticals, and hazardous materials.

2. Place each type of medical waste into a separate container. Make sure the containers are clearly labeled so that the recycling facility knows how to properly dispose of the contents.

3. Take your sorted and labeled containers of medical waste to the recycling facility. Most facilities will have specific instructions for where to drop off the Waste Containers.

Most medical waste can be recycled, but it’s important to know how to recycle medical waste correctly. Recycling medical waste reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, and it can also help to conserve resources.  We at MyRecycler, know exactly how to manage and recycle medical waste.