North Carolina Medical Waste Disposal

Medical Waste Disposal North Carolina

We consider Medical Waste as a catch-all for any and all items that may be considered waste from healthcare providers that are generated by dealing with a patient. We have found that different people, in different areas have their own idea or terms and definitions of said waste.  In North Carolina some of them are called or could be, Medical Waste – Biohazard Waste – Biomedical Waste – Infectious Waste – Red Bag Waste – Sharps Waste – And plenty more, one thing can be given, that all variations of these words could be called “Regulated Medical Waste” if it is Regulated or better known as (RMW) short for Regulated Medical Waste.  

Not all waste from healthcare facilities is Regulated Medical Waste. There are some similarity's of what is considered RMW across all the states. But, it is important to consider the EXACT definition of what is and what is not considered Regulated Medical Waste in the state that you provide services in. Example: Some items in North Carolina are not considered RMW, which could be different in Richmond Virginia. It is important to understand the terms and what is and is not Regulated Waste in North Carolina.

Provided below is some general over-all definitions of Regulated Medical Waste, but is just a jumping off point for you to understand the complexities of this industry. For more information, please contact your local State Environmental Regulator directly or contact a North Carolina medical waste disposal company, for up to date information of your responsibility’s in handling Regulated Medical Waste.

Although there is no universally accepted definition for medical waste, the definitions offered by most regulatory agencies are similar. Most federal and state agencies differentiate between common medical waste and those wastes with the potential for causing infection and for which special precautions are prudent. Depending on the state, these wastes are referred to as:




 

Pathology and Anatomy Wastes  

All human anatomical wastes and all wastes that are human tissues, organs, or body parts removed by trauma, during surgery, autopsy, studies, or another hospital procedure, which is intended for disposal.

It is important to understand the distinction between anatomical and pathological waste. While both are wastes derived from the human body, pathological wastes are unique in that these are typically samples of tissues that are examined in a laboratory setting to understand the nature of the disease or affliction from which a patient suffers. For the most part, pathological waste refers to very small tissues sections and body material derived from biopsies or surgical procedures that are then examined in the lab. Anatomical wastes are typically distinguished as recognizable human organs, tissue and body parts, and may require special treatment under some state regulations.

Some states do not consider hair, teeth and nails to be pathological/anatomical waste. Bulk human blood, blood products, bulk body fluids or other potentially infectious material

(OPIM- as defined by OSHA)

Definition:  bulk waste human blood, human blood components or products derived from blood including serum, plasma and other blood components, or bulk human body fluids as defined by OSHA to include the following human body fluids: semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, saliva in dental procedures, any body fluid that is visually contaminated with blood, and all body fluids in situations where it is difficult or impossible to differentiate between body fluids.

This category includes sample of these fluids taken in hematology labs, as well as drainage from surgery, and urine or feces when visibly contaminated by blood.

Microbiological Waste

Definition: cultures and stocks of infectious agents, and associated microorganisms and biologicals. Discarded cultures, culture dishes and devices used to transfer, inoculate and mix cultures, stocks, specimens, live and attenuated vaccines and associated items if they are likely to contain organisms likely to be pathogenic to healthy humans. Discarded etiologic agents and wastes from the production of biologicals and antibiotics likely to have been contaminated by organisms likely to be pathogenic to healthy humans. Waste that originates from clinical or research laboratory procedures involving communicable infectious agents.

Note: Microbiological waste that is also considered a ‘sharp’ as defined below, should be managed first and foremost as a ‘sharp’. It is also important to note what materials your laboratories are working with, as there are special guidelines from CDC on how to handle infectious microorganisms at biosafety level (BSL) 3 and BSL 4. Recent federal regulations require healthcare facility laboratories to maintain the capability of destroying discarded cultures and stocks on-site if these laboratories isolate form a clinical specimen any microorganism or toxin identified as a ‘select agent’ from a clinical specimen (Table 27- CDC Report on Environmental Infection Control)