Proper Medical Waste Handling at Home

Introduction

Medical waste generated at home can pose health risks if not disposed of properly. As a patient managing my healthcare at home, it is my responsibility to ensure safe medical waste handling. In this article, I will discuss proper procedures for segregating, disinfecting, containing, labeling, storing, and disposing of different types of medical waste generated at home.

Types of Medical Waste Generated at Home

As a home healthcare patient, I may generate the following types of medical waste:

• Sharps: Needles, syringes, lancets, razor blades, glass vials, etc.

• Infectious waste: Blood-soaked bandages, dressings, gloves, masks, tubings, etc.

• Pharmaceutical waste: Expired or unused medications, vitamin supplements, ointments, lotions, etc.

• Chemical waste: Disinfectants, solvents, reagents, etc.

• Radioactive waste: Radioactive diagnostic test materials.

• General waste: Food wrappers, juice boxes, disposable dinnerware, etc.

Proper segregation of the different waste types is the first step towards safe disposal.

Segregating Medical Waste

• I should segregate waste into sharp, infectious, pharmaceutical, chemical, radioactive and general waste immediately after use.

• Sharps should be collected together in a sturdy, puncture-proof container. Disposable syringes, needles, lancets etc. must be placed in a sharps container.

• Infectious waste should be collected in a thick, leak-proof plastic bag or container. Soiled bandages, dressings, tubings, masks, gloves etc. must be bagged separately.

• Pharmaceuticals should go into a sealable plastic bag marked ‘pharmaceutical waste’.

• Chemicals and radioactive waste should be collected in their original containers, if possible.

• General waste can go into a regular garbage bag.

Disinfecting Infectious Waste

As some of my medical waste may be contaminated with blood or bodily fluids, I must disinfect infectious waste before disposal.

• An appropriate disinfectant like diluted bleach or an EPA-registered tuberculocidal agent should be used.

• The disinfectant must be prepared and used according to manufacturer’s instructions.

• Infectious waste should be fully immersed in or saturated with the disinfectant for the recommended contact time to achieve disinfection.

• Once disinfected, the waste can be disposed of as regular trash.

Containing Medical Waste

• Sharps must be placed in an FDA-cleared sharps disposal container made of sturdy puncture-resistant plastic.

• Infectious waste should be double-bagged using two red biohazard bags or placed in rigid, leak-proof containers.

• Pharmaceuticals should be placed in a sealable plastic bag or container.

• Chemical and radioactive waste should be contained in their original sturdy, sealed containers.

• Caps and lids must be secured on all containers to prevent leaks and spills.

Labeling Medical Waste Containers

• All containers used for medical waste must be clearly labeled.

• Sharps container should be labeled ‘sharps’.

• Infectious waste bags should be marked with a biohazard symbol or the word ‘BIOHAZARD’.

• Pharmaceutical waste should be labeled ‘pharmaceutical waste’.

• Chemical and radioactive waste containers should be labeled with the contents.

Proper labeling warns household members and waste handlers to take precautions.

Storing Medical Waste

• Medical waste awaiting disposal must be stored safely to prevent access by children and pets.

• Sharps and infectious waste must be stored separately from other household waste in a secure area like a locked cabinet or closet.

• Waste should be stored in proper containers away from food, water and living areas.

• Storage duration should not exceed home healthcare guidelines which is typically less than 30 days.

Disposing of Medical Waste

• Contact your local health department, environmental agency, or trash collection service for guidelines on disposing of home generated medical waste.

• Sharps should always be discarded through a sharps mail-back program or at a designated drop-off location. Never place loose sharps in household trash.

• Infectious waste like dressings and tubing can be disposed of with regular household waste after safe containment and disinfection.

• Pharmaceutical waste should be returned to a designated pharmacy drop-off site whenever possible. Only empty pill bottles can go in the trash.

• Follow hazardous waste disposal guidelines for chemical and radioactive waste.

Conclusion

Proper medical waste segregation, containment, disinfection, labeling, storage, and disposal is essential for infection control and environmental safety when managing healthcare at home. Abiding by the guidelines discussed in this article will help me handle and dispose of different types of medical waste in a responsible manner as a homecare patient. Consulting providers and local authorities for specific advice is also recommended. Handling medical waste properly protects me, my family, and the community from harm.