Prohibited Wastes
| Household
hazardous waste checklist: |
| Acetone |
Chlorine |
Shellac |
| Alchols |
Drain Cleaners |
Transmission Fluid |
| Ammonia |
Dyes |
Antifreeze |
| Fertilizers |
Tree Root/Stump Killer |
Wallpaper Cement |
| Insecticides |
Oil, Automotive Oil, Petroleum |
Weed Killer |
| Barbecue & Lighter Fluid |
Used Oil Filters |
Batteries |
| Window Cleaners |
Paint Strippers |
Paint, Wood Stains |
| Windshield Wiper Fluid |
Paint Thinners |
Bleach |
| Cess Pool Cleaners |
Wood Preservations |
Poisons |
Items not accepted:
No Radioactive Material
No Cylinders (gas)
No Explosive Material
No Medical Waste
Sharps Disposal
Sharps waste is a form of medical
waste composed of used sharps, which includes any device
or object used to pucture or lacerate the skin. Sharps
waste is classified as biohazardous
waste and must be carefully handled. Common medical
materials treated as sharps waste are:
- Syringes & injection devices
- Blades
- Contaminated glass & some
plastics
- Qualifying materials
In addition to syringes and injection devices anything
attached to them will also be considered sharps waste.
Examples of such attachments could be a syringe,
tube, or vacutainer.
The entire complex is treated as one unit of sharps waste,
even though the attached item cannot puncture or lacerate
the skin.The category of blades can include razors, scalpels, x-acto
knives, scissors,
or any other medical items used for cutting in the medical
setting. Both needles and blades are always treated and
handled with the highest concern as sharps waste. This
is regardless of if they have been contaminated with biohazardous
material. While glass and plastic are considered sharps
waste, their handling methods can vary. Glass and plastic
items, which have been contaminated with a biohazardous
material, will be treated with the same concern as needles
and blades (even if unbroken). If not contaminated, broken
glass and plastic is still a sharp waste but does not pose
the same public health risk. Therefore broken glass and
plastic that has not been contaminated is not handled as
delicately. Some common medical items of this category
are test tubes, microscope slides, culture dishes, pipettes,
and vials.
Dangers involved in sharps waste
As a biohazardous material, injuries from sharps waste
can pose a large public health concern. By penetrating
the skin it is possible for this waste to spread blood-borne
pathogens. The spread of these pathogens is directly
responsible for the transmission of blood-borne
diseases such as Hepatitis
B (HBV), Hepatitis
C (HCV), and HIV.
Health care professionals expose themselves to the risk
of transmission of these diseases when handling sharps
waste.
The general public can be at direct risk to injuries from
sharps waste as well. If these hazardous materials are
not separated from standard waste, individuals can unknowingly
come in contact with them. In addition, if sharps waste
is not disposed, and removed from the environment, then
it can be subject to reuse and misuse (both intentional
and unintentional). This is especially applicable in the
areas of hypodermic
needles and blades. The spread of disease through sharps
waste is preventable through proper management and disposal.
Sharps waste management & disposal
A sharp container
is specially designed for safe disposal of sharps waste.
Extreme care must be taken in the management and
disposal of sharps waste. The main goal in sharps waste
management is to safely handle all materials until they
can be properly disposed. The final step in the disposal
of sharps waste is to dispose of them in an autoclave.Steps
must be taken along the way to minimize the risk of injury
from this material, while maximizing the amount of sharps
material disposed. From the moment sharps waste is produced
it is to be handled as little as possible. If the sharps
waste incorporates an additional part, such as a syringe,
tube, or handle the whole unit is disposed together. Attempts to
disassemble sharps waste is kept to a minimum. Strict protocols
and government regulations ensure that the handling of sharps
waste safely and dispose effectively.
The self locking and sealable containers are made of plastic
so that the sharps waste can not easily penetrate through
the sides. The unit is designed so that the whole container
can be disposed of with the other biohazardous waste. Single
use sharps
containers of various sizes are sold throughout the
world. These are colored red and labeled for biohazardous
sharps waste.
For more information
on disposal of sharps go to www.sharpsinc.com
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