Biomedical Waste Management Types, Solid or liquid biomedical wastes are dangerous and can threaten people, animals, and the environment if disposed of improperly. Biomedical waste management helps to lessen health implications.
Biomedical wastes include human tissues, contaminated blood, body fluids, sharp objects, dressings, etc. Inadequate waste management can lead to direct health hazards, therefore there is a need for treatment and proper waste management.
For proper management, there is a need for segregation of the biomedical waste into different hazardous bags and colour-coded bins. In this article, we will learn more about the 6 recommended biomedical waste management types to protect the environment.
Biomedical Waste Management Types to Protect the Environment
1. Incineration
This is one of the most preferred waste management practices used to transform pathological and pharmaceutical waste into ash, gases, and heat.
The incineration chamber is normally heated from around 800 -1400 degrees Celsius. In most cases, modern large-scale process plants such as high-temperature incinerators can’t be a good solution for hospitals since the emissions will need to be treated.
However, there are simple incinerator models that can be used to treat small quantities of medical waste. The combustion and emission control system can manage waste effectively.
Advantages of Incineration Chambers Of High Temperatures of Over 1000 Degrees
- Waste is destroyed to an unrecognizable state
- Waste volume and weight reduces
- Treatment of large quantities of waste
- Reduction in toxic emissions
- Suitable for most waste types.
Advantages of Dual Chamber Incinerator of 800-900 Degrees
- Microorganisms are destroyed
- Waste volume and weight is reduced
- Liquid and solids can be destroyed
- Large quantities of waste can be treated.
2. Autoclaving
Autoclaving is another method that uses steam sterilization and is substituted with incineration. Autoclaving requires a temperature of about 121 degrees.
The process is effective to inactivate contagious agents and sterilize apparatus in clinical places. It is less expensive with no health implications.
The method is environmentally safe, but might require the use of electricity which is not always recommended for waste management. Once materials have been autoclaved they can be taken to the landfills.
Advantages of Autoclaving
- It is a common method in health facilities
- Facilitates recycling of plastics
- Low operating costs
- Ecologically sound technology
3. Chemical Treatment
Chemical treatment is good for decontaminating liquid waste such as blood, urine, feces or hospital sewage for easy disposal. The chemical treatment uses oxidation, reduction, precipitation, and PH neutralization in reduction of the biomedical wastes.
Chemical disinfection kills microorganisms and treats healthcare wastes. Solid wastes can also be chemically disinfected, but they need to be shredded first. However, thermal disinfection is preferred over chemical disinfection.
Advantages of Chemical Treatment
- It is simple
- It is cheap
- Disinfectants are readily available.
4. Disposal in Land Fills
After decontamination using the right treatment method, often, the waste is thrown away as normal waste in landfills where groundwater is low. In some cases, they are disposed of deep in the oceans.
Advantages of Sanitary Land Fill
- Simple and cheap operating costs
- Can be carried out using existing municipal wastes
- Scavengers can’t access the healthcare landfill if well managed.
Advantages of a Separate Pit on Hospital Site
- Simple and relatively cheap to build and manage
- Dangerous substances are not transported from the hospital
- Special control of waste
5. Shredding
Shredding cuts the waste into small pieces. However, it needs competent staff to operate the device.
The shredders are often built into closed chemical or thermal disinfection systems. However, only disinfected items should be shredded in these devices.
Advantages of Shredding
- Makes the waste unrecognizable
- Prevents the reuse of needles and syringes
- Reduces volume
- Facilitates recycling of plastics
- Enhances the effectiveness of the chemical or thermal treatment methods
6. Encapsulation
Encapsulation requires the containing of a few hazardous items in a mass of inert material. It involves filling containers with waste and adding an immobilizing material to the container.
The containers or boxes are then filled up with plastic foam, sand, lime, cement, or clay. Once the medium dries, the containers are sealed and disposed of in a sanitary landfill.
Advantages of Encapsulation
- Simple, cheap, and safe method
- The solution is good for sharp and pharmaceutical wastes
- Reduced risks for scavengers.
Conclusion
The waste management method depends on the type of waste being handled. Some blood-contaminated items would be better off autoclaved or incinerated rather than being thrown in the landfill to prevent the spread of some diseases. It is also vital for hospitals to have incinerators to reduce the health care facilities’ wastes.
Also, when choosing a waste management method, it is crucial to check whether the environment will be polluted in any way. If any emissions will be released into the environment, it is better to leave the treatment to be done in the designated areas to prevent exposing humans, animals, plants, and the ecosystem to such dangers.
