Importance of Clinical Waste Management

Clinical waste management and proper waste stream classification provide numerous advantages, including economic savings, reduced environmental impact of hazardous waste due to rigorous laws, and improved health and safety.

To protect the environment and persons from harm, it is critical to understand the many forms of trash and how to separate them. Medical waste has the following risks:

Health Risks — Clinical waste can contain infectious agents, radioactive materials or hazardous chemicals which could infect patients, health workers and the general public if not disposed of properly.

Sharps-Related — Each year, approximately 16 million injections are given by syringe or needle. A considerable fraction of these 16 million people is not properly disposed of. This can result in more harm and infection. An individual who is inadvertently injured by a needle used on an HIV-positive person has a 1 in 160 chance of becoming infected.

Environmental Impact — Improper medical waste disposal can put people’s health at risk by releasing infections and hazardous substances into the environment. Untreated medical waste can contaminate subsurface soils and drinking water, impacting the general public and putting them at risk.

Around the world, medical waste disposal gone wrong is a common occurrence. This is mostly due to a lack of awareness of waste management and disposal procedures, human resources, and a low priority given to medical waste management.

Medical waste does not necessarily come from hospitals or clinics. Medical waste management is a universal responsibility of physicians, medical facilities, and the general public alike. It could be medical supplies like bandages and swabs from people who haven’t been properly trained in safe disposal techniques.