Tennessee Medical Waste Disposal

Tennessee Medical Waste Disposal

Tennessee Medical Waste Disposal. From hospitals to laboratories, Tennessee medical facilities produce a vast amount of medical waste every day. This waste can range from used syringes and bandages to laboratory samples and body fluids, and all of it needs to be managed and disposed of in a safe and responsible manner. Disposal of medical waste is regulated by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to ensure safe and efficient management of this potentially hazardous material. With the help of knowledgeable, experienced professionals, BioWaste Medical Waste Management, Tennessee medical facilities can ensure that their medical waste is disposed of in accordance with the regulations and guidelines set by the state. In this article, we’ll explore the regulations, processes, and methods of medical waste disposal in Tennessee.

In Tennessee “Medical Wastes” means the following solid wastes:

• Wastes generated by hospitalized patients who are isolated to protect others from communicable diseases (see the U. S. Centers for Disease Control Guidelines for Isolation Precautions in Hospitals, July, 1983 for definition of diseases requiring such isolation).
• Cultures and stocks of infectious agents, including specimen cultures from medical and pathological laboratories, cultures and stocks of infectious agents from research and industrial laboratories, wastes from the production of Biologicals, discarded live and attenuated vaccines, and culture dishes and devices used to transfer, inoculate, and mix cultures.
• Waste human blood and blood products such as serum, plasma, and other blood components.
• Pathological wastes (i. e., tissues, organs, body parts, and body fluids) that are removed during surgery and autopsy.
• All discarded sharps (e.g., hypodermic needles, syringes, pasteur pipettes, broken glass, scalpel blades) used in patient care or which have come into contact with infectious agents during use in medical, research, or industrial laboratories.
• Contaminated carcasses, body parts, and bedding of animals that were intentionally exposed to pathogens in research in the production of biologicals, or in the in vivo testing of pharmaceuticals.
• The following wastes from patients known to be infected with bloodborne disease:
  • Contaminated wastes from surgery and autopsy (e.g., soiled dressings, sponges, drapes, lavage tubes, drainage sets, underpads, surgical gloves).
  • Wastes from medical, pathological, pharmaceutical, or other research, commercial, or industrial laboratories that were in contact with infectious agents (e.g., specimen containers, slides and cover slips, disposable gloves, lab coats, aprons).
  • Wastes that were in contact with the blood of patients undergoing hemodialysis, including contaminated disposal equipment and supplies such as tubing, filters, disposable sheets, towels, gloves, aprons, and lab coats.
  • Discard equipment and parts that were used in patient care, medical and industrial laboratories, research, and in the production and testing of certain pharmaceuticals and that may be contaminated with infectious agents.

Medical Waste Best Practices

All healthcare workers should know and observe the best practices for medical waste collection, storage, transportation, and disposal. Know the laws, classify and separate all waste, and use a clear color-coding system. Don’t overfill containers, and keep non-regulated waste separate to cut costs.

• Know the medical waste laws. Waste from healthcare facilities is regulated by the states, the EPA, DEA, OSHA, the DOT, and other federal, state, and local agencies. Be aware of all laws before preparing, storing, or transporting waste.
• Classify all healthcare waste. About 85% of medical waste is non-hazardous, such as sweeping waste or office trash. However, 15% is hazardous. To keep costs low, don’t put non-hazardous waste in with hazardous waste.
• Separate waste. Separate waste by type, including pathological, sharps, chemical, and pharmaceutical. All regulated biohazardous waste should go in red bags. Sharps go in puncture-proof containers.
• Use proper medical waste containers. Some waste can go into certified cardboard boxes. Other wastes go into special tubs. Some is even locked for transportation.
• Prepare waste containers. Package all bags and containers by taping them for shipment. Then follow DOT waste packaging rules and weight restrictions. Store containers in a dry, secure area for shipping or pickup. Properly label all biohazardous waste.
• Attach the right documentation. The correct documentation protects the waste disposal company, the shipper, and the healthcare provider. Completed paperwork must accompany every bag or container during transit.
• Color code all waste. The WHO suggests a color coding system that many facilities adopt. Black containers in the U.S are used for Hazardous waste pharmaceutical waste. Yellow containers are for used trace amounts of chemo drugs, sharps, tubing, and PPE to name a few. Red bins for biohazards and blue or white containers are used for non-hazardous pharmaceuticals. Radioactive wastes like Iodine-131 go into shielded lead containers marked with a radiation symbol.
• Don’t overfill. Bags should be ¾ full at the most to reduce the chance of spillage. Keep containers covered, and seal them once they’re filled.
• Keep a strict collection or shipping schedule. Waste shouldn’t be allowed to sit too long, especially in heat. Store medical waste in a cool, dry place out of the way of normal operations.
• Use a trusted waste disposal company. The thicket of regulations, types of waste, and many methods of transporting and disposal create a frightening hassle for healthcare employees. Partner with a dependable vendor to avoid a potential catastrophe.

Medical Waste Management and Disposal Services

Disposal of medical waste is the final step in the waste management process. It is important to transport and dispose of this waste properly to prevent the risk of exposure from pathogens and other harmful substances. There are licensed medical waste transport companies in Tennessee, but only two of which provide services for the safe and efficient treatment and disposal of medical waste. There are only two companies in Tennessee that own and operate their own medical waste processing plant, BioWaste is one of those two.

Before choosing a medical waste disposal company, it is important to select a company that is licensed and insured, and employs trained, certified staff which operates its own medical waste processing plant. Choosing the right medical waste disposal company will help ensure that your medical waste is disposed of in a safe and responsible manner.

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Tennessee Interesting Information

Tennessee has diverse terrain and landforms, and from east to west, contains a mix of cultural features characteristic of Appalachia, the Upland South, and the Deep South. The Blue Ridge Mountains along the eastern border reach some of the highest elevations in eastern North America, and the Cumberland Plateau contains many scenic valleys and waterfalls. The central part of the state is marked by cavernous bedrock and irregular rolling hills, and level, fertile plains define West Tennessee. The state is twice bisected by the Tennessee River, and the Mississippi River forms its western border. Its economy is dominated by the health care, music, finance, automotive, chemical, electronics, and tourism sectors, and cattle, soybeans, corn, poultry, and cotton are its primary agricultural products.[16] The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the nation’s most visited national park, is in eastern Tennessee.

We service most of Tennessee for Medical Waste Disposal including the cities below

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