Necessity of Biowaste Disposal in Jacksonville and Ocala, FL

 Health care facilities generate biohazardous waste in huge quantities every day. Throwing them into ordinary trash containers is a strict no-no. There are various protocols for medical waste disposal in Jacksonville and Ocala, FL, at the state and national levels that must be maintained without exception. Unfortunately, the staff members may not be knowledgeable about the regulations or have any idea about what is hazardous and what is not. It is thus important for the healthcare facilities as well as clinics, vets’ offices, and research laboratories to use trained and certified professionals to take on this responsibility.

There are various types of waste generated by the aforementioned facilities and organizations. The skilled professionals not only know how to segregate each type of waste but also supply OSHA-recommended color-coded containers for storage before they are collected and transported discreetly for disposal.

The different types of medical waste that are collected and disposed of by the trained professionals include the following: 

· Infectious material that includes used bandages, swabs, blood-soaked items, cultures, and /or PPE.

 

· Sharps waste includes objects capable of piercing the skin and drawing blood. Used needles, scissors, scalpels, broken glass, and contaminated sharp objects.

 

· Pathological/Anatomical Waste such as human tissues, amputated body parts, fluids, and contaminated animal carcasses.

 

· Pharmaceutical Waste is a term for used and expired medicinal drugs. It also includes contaminated pharmaceutical drugs, as well as creams and powders used for patient care.

 

· Genotoxic/Cytotoxic Waste is generated from cancer-treating drugs, which are highly toxic and hazardous to healthy individuals.

 

· Chemical waste like disinfectants, cleaning compounds, mercury, laboratory solvents, and batteries.

 

· Radioactive Waste includes substances used for imaging, radiation treatment, and/or imaging. Urine or glassware holding the radioactive materials, too.

The professional team arrives at a specific time regularly to ensure proper disposal of medical waste. It is done in several stages, which include the following:

1. Segregation of waste. It is separated right at the point of generation and put into color-coded containers with colors signifying the following:

 

Red bags contain blood-soaked materials and infectious waste

Yellow bags hold highly infectious lab cultures and anatomical waste

Blue & White Containers are used to store sharps waste

2. Collection & Storage- The waste is segregated and collected in color-coded containers, which are puncture-proof and sealed. The containers are kept in a corner of the facility or refrigerated to prevent malodor and the spread of pathogens.

3. Transportation. Specially designed vehicles are used to transport the waste from the concerned facility to the treatment area or disposal ground. Each vehicle is marked prominently and adheres to the regulatory guidelines to avoid mishaps and spilling out of the waste.

 

4. Treatment & Disposal. The toxic and extremely hazardous waste is sent to treatment facilities before the remnants are disposed of according to the regulatory guidelines. The commonly used methods for treatment and eventual disposal include:

Autoclaving

Incineration

Chemical Disinfection

Shredding

Irradiation

Biological waste or biowaste disposal in Jacksonville and Ocala, FL must be done in strict compliance with the regulatory standards recommended by the OSHA, the EPA, and the Florida Department of Health. 

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