Medical waste is the general term for all waste generated during medical procedures in healthcare units, including infectious, pathological, and sharp-cutting materials. It is a type of biological waste and is generally classified as hazardous waste. Medical waste must never be mixed with other types of waste or disposed of in the same environment.

WHAT IS MEDICAL WASTE AND HOW SHOULD IT BE DISPOSED OF?

Medical waste is the general term for all waste generated during procedures in healthcare units, including infectious, pathological, and sharp-cutting (piercing) materials. Medical waste is a type of biological waste and is generally classified as hazardous waste. It is absolutely necessary that medical waste is not mixed with other types of waste and is not disposed of in the same environment.

Separating and collecting medical waste properly facilitates the disposal process. This is because liquid waste within medical waste may carry deadly diseases such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and the AIDS virus, which are transmitted through blood. In addition, human feces and tissue samples can also cause many infectious diseases. It is very important that medical waste is collected seriously and carefully in accordance with established regulations.

Medical waste can only be disposed of in facilities that are officially authorized. Institutions are not allowed to dispose of their own waste. Properly stored waste is collected by licensed vehicles and personnel and transported to disposal facilities. At these facilities, the waste is treated through sterilization or incineration. In this way, the risk of disease transmission from hazardous waste, such as infectious and pathological materials, is eliminated.

During incineration, the gases produced are directed to a secondary combustion chamber to destroy any potentially dangerous microorganisms. The gases generated after incineration are then passed through a filtration unit that meets the conditions specified by regulations.