Medical Waste Disposal in Nashville, TN

Medical Waste Disposal in Nashville, TN

‍Medical waste disposal in Nashville, TN is an important issue for the health and safety of both the local population and the environment. Medical waste is a broad term that encompasses anything from used syringes and other disposable items from hospitals and clinics to hazardous materials, such as expired drugs and chemicals.

Proper disposal of medical waste is essential to ensure that it is disposed of in a safe and responsible manner that meets both local and federal regulations. Nashville has a number of medical waste disposal options, including services that collect, transport, treat and dispose of medical waste. Additionally, many local businesses and organizations have implemented strategies to reduce their medical waste output and thereby reduce their environmental impact. By understanding the medical waste disposal options available in Nashville, TN, individuals, businesses, and organizations can ensure that they are responsibly disposing of medical waste and protecting the environment.

Medical Waste Disposal in Nashville, TN – Definition of Medical Waste

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

(a) Wastes generated by hospitalized patients who are isolated to protect others from communicable diseases (see the current U.S. Centers for Disease Control guidance related to preventing transmission of infectious agents in healthcare settings for definition of diseases requiring such isolation).

(b) 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.

(c) Waste human blood and blood products such as serum, plasma, and other blood components.

(d) Pathological wastes (i.e., tissues, organs, body parts, and body fluids) that are removed during surgery and autopsy.

(e) 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.

(f) 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.

(g) The following wastes from patients known to be infected with blood-borne disease:

1. Contaminated wastes from surgery and autopsy (e.g., soiled dressings, sponges, drapes, lavage tubes, drainage sets, underpads, surgical gloves).

2. 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).

3. 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.

4. Discarded 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.

Types of Medical Waste

Hazardous Medical Wastes

Hazardous Medical Wastes are those medical wastes which contain chemicals (such as Nicotine, Epinephrine, Nitroglycerine, Warfarin, chemotherapy drugs, etc.) that the EPA has determined must be managed under the strict criteria established by federal regulations.

More information about hazardous medical waste is available on the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation website including some examples of possible listed hazardous waste that healthcare facilities may generate.

Non-Hazardous Medical Waste

Medical wastes that are not hazardous waste are subject to regulation under Tennessee’s solid waste regulations, Rule Chapter 0400-11-01.

Within these regulations, information pertaining to medical waste can be found on pages 7, 8, 11 (under “special waste”) and 14, Rule Chapter 0400-11-01.

The Division has developed guidance for the disposal of non-hazardous medical waste in a class I landfill starting on page 133 of the Division’s Policy and Guidance Manual.

Federal and State Regulations for Medical Waste Disposal

Since the medical waste tracking act of 1988 ended, the Federal Government does not have oversight when it comes to the actual disposal of medical waste. The federal government had a three-year program to identify processes but once that ended the government made a “Model Guidelines for State Medical Waste Management” to help the states come up with their own program, it was up to each individual state to define their own process for medical waste management. This includes the name, as well as the definition. Some states call medical waste, infectious waste, biomedical waste, regulated waste and more.

Today, there are some Federal Agencies involved in medical waste like OSHA for worker safety, DOT for public safety in transporting medical waste.

When it comes to defining and treating medical waste that is all regulated at the state level usually involving the state EPA and or Health Department.

Medical Waste Treatment and Disposal Options in Nashville

Medical waste must be treated to be made non-infectious for example, decontaminated by autoclaving, or incinerated.

In Tennessee there are only two licensed treatment plants in the state, BioWaste Medical Waste Management is one of the two.

With our own inhouse medical waste processing plant we are able to provide high quality service at economical prices. We manage your medical waste from pickup to treatment & disposal.

Strategies for Reducing Medical Waste Output

Healthcare facilities can implement strategies to reduce the amount of medical waste they generate. The most important strategy is proper segregation, putting regular trash in a medical waste bin is going to greatly increase medical waste generation and cost.

Key Benefits of Working With BioWaste. Give Us a Call Today!

About Nashville, TN

Nashville, TN Resources

Nashville, TN Interesting Information

Nashville lies on the Cumberland River in the northwestern portion of the Nashville Basin. Nashville’s elevation ranges from its lowest point, 385 feet above sea level at the Cumberland River, to its highest point, 1,163 feet above sea level in the Radnor Lake State Natural Area. Nashville also sits at the start of the Highland Rim, a geophysical region of very hilly land. Because of this, Nashville is very hilly.

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