Medical waste disposal
Medical waste is various wastes that appear in the course of the medical establishments’ activities. Mainly, these are: pharmaceuticals, bandages, medical care articles, blood and other body fluids, somatic tissues and others. Medical waste of hospitals and medical and health establishments require special care, as they have a hidden significant hazard both to humans and the environment.
Waste classification
All health care waste is divided into 5 classes (the Sanitary Regulations and Standards 2.1.7.728-99) according to the extent of its epidemiological, toxicological and radiation hazard.
Class A
Nonhazardous waste. The waste that has not had any contact with patients’ biological fluids, infective patients, nontoxic waste.
Food waste of all divisions of medioprophilactic establishments, except for infectious deceases hospitals (including the dermatovenerologic and tuberculosis ones);
Class B
Hazardous waste. Infected waste. Materials and tools contaminated with discharges, including blood. Autopsy and organic surgical waste (organs, tissues, etc.). All waste from infectious departments (including food). Waste from microbiological laboratories that deal with microorganisms of 3rd and 4th pathogenicity groups. Vivaria biological waste;
Class C
Extremely hazardous waste. Materials contacting patients who suffer from especially dangerous infections. Waste from laboratories that deal with microorganisms of 1st and 2nd groups of pathogenicity. Waste from TB and mycological hospitals. Waste from patients with anaerobic infection;
Class D
Waste with similar to industrial composition. Expired medicines, waste from medicines and diagnostic products, disinfectants that cannot be used and have expired. Cytostatic agents and other chemicals. Mercury-containing items, appliances and equipment;
Class E
Radioactive waste. All types of waste containing radioactive components.
