Medical Waste Containers Safely Hold Hazardous Medical Waste

Posted by KBV Research on February 2nd, 2021

Medical waste containers have become an integral part of the hospital management system. With the increasing incidences of hospital-acquired infections, it has become compulsory for healthcare centers to have proper management of biomedical waste.

Furthermore, governments have also instigated strict safety and environmental conservation policies concerning the disposal and containment of waste. The medical waste produced from these surgeries necessity apt disposable container, as the demand for medical waste containers has been increasing.

What do we understand by medical waste?

A subset of waste that is been generated in healthcare facilities including hospitals, dentistry, blood banks, veterinary clinics, and medical research laboratories is called medical waste or biomedical waste. In other words, medical waste is any type of waste that contains potentially infectious material. It includes sharp needles, scalpels, razors, infectious waste like swabs, tissues, and lab culture, radioactive waste, pathological, pharmaceuticals, genotoxic waste, etc.

What are medical waste containers?

Containers that are used to store biomedical waste are called medical waste containers. Containers are demarcated by specific colors and labels in order to make them distinct from others. As medical waste containers safely hold hazardous medical waste, these waste containers are mainly used to transport medical waste to the disposal site. As biomedical waste is safely segregated, disposed of, and transported in the medical waste containers, it reduces the chances of infection.

Product outlook of medical waste container

Biohazardous Medical Waste Containers:

Containers are designed especially for the collection of biohazardous waste. It is either made up of metals or plastics. It is safe and secure to store medical waste in this type of container. They are vital to be used in the assortment of specific types of waste.

Chemotherapy Containers:

The chemotherapy waste is generated during the preparation as well as the administration of chemotherapy. These wastes include vials, medicinal bags, IV tubing, and needle system. All these materials are used during the chemotherapy sessions. So proper disposal of such waste is mandatory.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Containers:

RCRA was enacted by the EPA. This act came into existence in order to regulate the disposal of hazardous waste. The containers have special RCRA labeling on it. The RCRA containers are transportable and allow operators to use only one unit for disposal, transportation, and storage.

Who are the users of the medical waste containers?

Biomedical waste containers are used by hospitals & private clinics, diagnostic laboratories, and Research Institutes. At all these places the waste generated can be hazardous and infectious for both humans and animals. So the waste produced must be properly disposed of.

Types of Waste used in hospitals

General Medical Waste : Those medical waste that is generated at healthcare places during surgeries, hospital waste, and in research laboratories. General hospital waste is included in the bulk of medical waste produced typically in household and office waste. This waste is not very harmful.

Hazardous Medical Waste: those biomedical wastes that are dangerous means they are sharp materials. But it does not cause any infection is included in hazardous waste. Sharp knives, needles, scalpel, or any such material are hazardous in nature.

Infectious Medical Waste: Any waste that is capable of causing infections are called infectious medical waste. These wastes include blood, tissues, cellular content, or body fluid.

Why it is so important to handle, segregate, store, and manage healthcare waste?

According to WHO, it is mandatory to have effective management of the biomedical waste generated in the hospitals. For this segregation of waste is a key step to be taken. Waste should be sorted into different categories and should be kept in a well-labeled medical waste container. Chemical waste, radioactive infectious waste, pharmaceutical waste, waste containing heavy metals, highly infectious waste all should be properly disposed of. It reduces the chances of infection.

Major benefits of using medical waste container

• The use of medical waste containers reduces the chances of contamination of water and soil.
• Proper disposal of medical waste in container ensures the safety of healthcare workers.
• Biomedical containers reduce the transmission of infectious diseases like AIDS, Hepatitis, etc.
• It also controls the spread of zoonotic diseases.
• If waste is disposed of in containers, it prevents the illegal reselling and repackaging of contaminated and used needles.
• It helps to control the arousal of nosocomial disease.
• It blocks the cycle of infection.
• It saves the environment.

Overview

The Medical Waste Containers Market has been witnessing rapid growth as there is an increased occurrence of hospital-acquired infections. There are different types of waste that are generated in the healthcare facilities including General Medical Waste, Infectious Medical Waste, and Hazardous Medical Waste.

 Furthermore, with the occurrence of the COVID-19, it has now become extremely important to have a very strong medical waste disposable system. The management of medical waste is of boundless importance due to its associated potential environmental impacts as well as public health hazards.