Medical Waste Management, a Need of Today

Have you ever thought how does medical waste is managed? How do hospitals or pharmaceutical companies dispose of them? If this waste is disposed of, then the question is where? Is it just dumped in rivers or buried deep inside the ground? Well, management of medical waste is done by two major methods, onsite and offsite.

Onsite, as the name suggests, is a method is where the disposal of the waste is on the same site. The offsite method includes transporting the waste to another site. However, both methods are used widely today and have their own success ratios.

Why There Is A Need For Medical Waste Disposal?

Medical waste is increasing day by day, especially at the time of the pandemic. This waste consists of used sharps, bandages, unwanted cultures and many more. This waste is classified as hazardous and needs immediate disposal, that’s the root cause of medical waste disposal.

Categories of waste disposal ways

The waste disposal techniques are broadly divided into two categories, that is onsite and offsite. These are two different methods used in medical industries.

Offsite Method

As the name suggests, not on the same site. In this method, the waste is collected, packed and transported to another area where they are disposed of. Now on the other site, several processes are involved like autoclaving and incineration to dispose of the waste material. Also, the waste needs to be collected carefully and in a safe place so that the people around it do not catch any infection. This method includes some sort of risk as healthcare workers are frequently exposed to this waste and patients are somewhat too. It is also observed that some illegal packagers collect the used lancelets and syringes to pack them again and sell.

Onsite Method

This is the most convenient and safest method of disposal. It disposes of the waste on the same site eliminating the risk of infection to anyone. The need for transporting waste to another site is also subtracted. All you need to do is add the waste into the machine and start the machine. The waste will be disposed of in the machine and ready to dump directly in the dustbin. The released ash is not harmful to anyone. Using this method ensures timely disposal as well as cut off the way of illegal packaging of medical equipment’s.

Summing Up

Today the level of medical waste is increasing at a high pace. This increasing waste is dangerous for our environment, human life and animals. That is why the need for disposal of this hazardous waste has also increased. Management of medical waste is just more than a requirement. With the numerous sources available for waste disposal, it is important to choose the right one. It provides the lowest changes of human infection to saving the environment from it. The onsite method is the best-fitted method for this scenario. It provides timely disposal and eliminates all the risks related to the waste. Also, this method is time-saving and cost-efficient. You don’t need to invest repeatedly for the same purpose.

Sarah K, a professional writer who share interests in different creative niches. Her ideas and tips towards such niches have contributed to the online community.