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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
BioWaste Services
Treatment Facility
Biowaste, LLC is Proud to Have an In-house State-Of-The Art Treatment Plant Located at our Tullahoma, Tennessee Headquarters.
Medical Waste Products
Sharps Containers, Biohazard Bags, RCRA/Control Substance Containers, Pharmaceutical Containers and Cleaning Products.
We offer some of the best rates around so you can sleep easy knowing you’re keeping some money in your pocket.
It’s hard to find another medical waste disposal service in Tennessee who can offer the amount of high-quality customer service to their clients as we can.
There’s nothing more stressful than debating the terms of a contract. Let us make this easy for you and offer you reasonable terms.
We strive to make your life easier. By offering flexible service agreements, we take the stress out of finding a reliable medical waste disposal service in Tennessee.
These days too many companies hide fees within their contracts. We wouldn’t even think of it.
We own and operate our own medical waste treatment plant right here in Tennessee. We are one of two companies in the entire state that offers this service.
Nashville is the capital city of the state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S.
Nashville City Hall
1 Public Square
Nashville, TN 37201
615-862-6000
Police Department
600 Murfreesboro Pk
Nashville, TN 37210
615-862-8600
Fire Department
63 Hermitage Ave
Nashville, TN 37210
615-862-5421
Health Department
2500 Charlotte Ave
Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 340-5616
Nashville DOT
750 S 5th St
Nashville, TN 37206
615-862-5000
Chamber of Commerce
500 11th Ave N
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 743-3000
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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Phone: 615-491-4929
Email: Contact Form
Address: 210 Mitchell Blvd
Tullahoma, Tennessee 37388
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Since 2009, BioWaste LLC has provided top-notch biohazard waste removal at reasonable rates for our customers all over Tennessee.
Call 615-491-4929 for a consultation, and speak with one of our knowledgeable and professional staff members.