Regulated Medical Waste
Regulated medical waste is regulated at the state level as either municipal or residual waste , and includes wastes generated in the treatment of humans such as :
• Cultures and stocks
• Pathological wastes : tissues , body parts and body fluids – but not extracted teeth – removed during medical or laboratory procedures
• Human blood and body fluid waste : items saturated or dripping with blood , items caked with dried blood or items contaminated by body fluids during medical and laboratory procedures
• Used sharps : used in patient care or treatment such as hypodermic needles , syringes and suture needles
Regulated medical waste must be handled and stored separately from other wastes . Appropriate containers such as double bags or rigid containers must be used to store regulated medical waste . With the exception of used sharps , regulated medical waste may only be stored for up to 30 days from the date the bag is full or sealed ( whichever came first ) at room temperature or in the refrigerator ( provided no problems are encountered with odors or organisms such as insects or mice ), or for up to 90 days in a freezer . Used sharps may be stored in appropriate containers until the containers are full .
Regulated medical waste regulations also specify transportation requirements . Waste must be transported in containers that are rigid , leak-proof , impervious to moisture and sufficient in strength to prevent puncturing , tearing , or bursting during transportation . Ordinarily , regulated medical waste may only be transported by licensed medical waste haulers . However , most dental offices are conditionally exempt small quantity generators ( less than 220 pounds a month ) and may transport regulated medical waste if :
• Only the medical waste generated by their office is transported .
• A log or shipping paper is recorded and maintained by the dental office , listing the quantity of waste transported and the date delivered and accepted by the processing or disposal facility .
• The dental office carries and delivers a copy of the transportation record with the waste shipment to the processing or disposal facility .
Note : Dental carpules that contain residual anesthetic should be disposed of in a container properly labeled as pharmaceutical waste and transported to a medical waste incinerator . Autoclave treatment does not break down pharmaceutical waste as it does other medical wastes , and thus incineration is required . Used dental carpules that are empty and do not contain any residual anesthetic should be disposed of in a sharps container .
5 PDA Waste Management Guidelines