The COVID-19 pandemic has unarguably taken a drastic toll on us, causing millions of deaths within a year worldwide. That said, the death toll isn’t the only concern it raised among us. It has also led to an enormous increase in medical and hazardous waste generation.

Almost every health facility — hospitals, clinics, isolation rooms, you name it — is now overburdened with safe handling and disposing of such waste generated during COVID-19 inpatient care. So much so that they are in urgent need of concrete custom medical waste plans and assistance from waste removal companies to combat the challenge. And should they get any lax or overlook the importance of proper medical waste removal, the results would be catastrophic, with a sudden surge in the COVID-19 contamination.

What are the dangers of medical waste?

Medical waste is the waste generated by healthcare facilities, medical labs, and biochemical research facilities that can potentially cause health crises, such as infection and diseases in susceptible bodies, leading to an epidemic or even a pandemic. Gloves, injections, needles, masks, PICC lines, bandages are a few examples of such waste. They are home to infectious agents, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and many others.

Improper treatment and disposal of medical waste increase the risk of secondary disease transmission because of exposure to pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, and others, among healthcare workers, waste managers, waste pickers, and the general public if the waste is disposed of improperly in a public area. This is why it’s extremely important to have a reliable medical waste plan when removing such waste.

Which is the most dangerous category of medical waste?

How dangerous a waste category is, depends on the nature of the waste it includes and the local vulnerability in regards to exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capabilities. However, according to experts, the most dangerous category of medical waste isn’t the one that causes catastrophic consequences rapidly in a few individuals, but rather the one that spreads systematically among millions of people either directly or indirectly through the ecosystem. Medical waste produced during COVID-19 care may be a dangerous category that should tread lightly with custom medical waste removal plans.

How to manage medical waste?

When it comes to managing medical waste with the highest tendency to cause health crises or spread like wildfire, certain technologies, such as incineration, can help in destruction and decontamination, provided they are well-maintained and used under strict monitoring.

Since healthcare providers need to act as the first responders throughout the year, it is recommended not to carry out the process within healthcare facilities. For this reason, calling a medical waste management and removal company is the best course of action, ensuring everyone is safe and sound, and waste is disposed of properly and within regulations.

If you are a healthcare institution struggling with medical waste generated as a result of the pandemic, feel free to get in touch with us and let us help you with a custom medical waste plan that best meets your needs.