When you see a biohazard sign, it immediately signals that something bad is inside and lets you know to keep a safe distance. In fact, when most people see a biohazard sign they are instantly alerted to the danger that lies inside. What exactly is inside: potentially life-threatening and dangerous materials!

What Is Biohazardous Waste?

Any waste material that contains either infectious materials or potentially infectious materials. There are four different types of biohazardous waste including liquid, solid, sharp, and pathological.

• Liquid: Blood and bodily fluids.
• Solid: Non-sharp items that came in contact with human or animals specimen materials like tissue or bodily fluids. This could be gloves worn while drawing a patient’s blood or towels used to clean up vomit.
• Sharp: Anything sharp enough to puncture the skin that came in contact with the potentially infectious material. This could include needles and scalpels or even broken glass that is covered in blood after an accident.
• Pathological: Any organs, tissue, or body parts that have been removed from a human or animal.

Why Is Biohazardous Waste Harmful?

Each year 16 billion injections are administered, but not all of the needles are disposed of properly. The result is potentially unsafe, even life-threatening materials exposed to the public and the environment.

• Biohazardous waste could contain diseases that threaten anyone who comes in contact with it.
• When not disposed of properly, the entire community is at risk of being exposed to and even contracting these serious diseases and pathogens.
• Furthermore, some of the practices commonly used to dispose of biohazardous waste (such as incineration) release pollutants into the air that have widespread negative consequences.

How To Safely Dispose Of Biohazard Waste

Each of the four types of biohazardous waste requires specific and meticulous disposal guidelines that must be followed to ensure the safety of not only those handling the materials but the entire community and environment.

• Solid Waste: Should be collected in a designated container with a lid labeled clearly with a biohazard symbol. If decontaminated prior to disposal, it can be sent to an approved landfill as regular medical waste. Otherwise, it must be handled by an approved waste management company for decontamination and disposal.
• Liquid Waste: Should be collected in a leak-proof container secured against tipping and clearly marked with a biohazard symbol. Most liquid waste is treated with bleach or autoclaving before being disposed of.
• Sharp Waste: Should be collected in a designated “sharps” container that is resistant to puncture and leaks. A medical waste contractor can pick up sharps and dispose of them properly.
• Pathologic Waste: Should be double-bagged and stored in a container similar to liquid waste. Incineration is the most common method to dispose of pathologic waste.

What If I Have Biohazardous Waste At Home?

There are many potential circumstances that might lead to biohazardous waste in the home. For example, a diabetic patient may require multiple insulin injections and thus have used sharps and needles. Also, a household accident leading to a serious cut could leave a significantly blood-soaked garment or towel in the home. Can you just toss these things in the household trash? NO!

Disposing Syringes/Needles At Home

1. Always use a sharps container that is puncture-proof and leak-proof.
2. Never overfill a sharps container.
3. When your sharps container is full, you can return it in a mail-back program, use a drop box at a doctor’s office or hospital, or bring to a local household hazardous waste collection site.

Blood-Soaked Products At Home

If there is an accident at home and you have blood-soaked garments, towels, bandages, etc., most of the time these items can be double bagged and sent to the regular household trash. Check with your local waste management company prior to disposal to be sure there are not specific instructions to follow.

We all must responsibly dispose ofbiohazardous and infectious wastes at home and be aware of the potential for improper disposal of other biohazardous wastes in the community to ensure safety for all. Irresponsible disposal of these materials can threaten the lives of humans and animals and affect the overall health of our environment. Be smart, Columbus!