Where Does Regulated Medical Waste Go? Why Healthcare Organizations Should Care.
Healthcare facilities generate significant volumes of waste – the U.S. healthcare system produces more than five million pounds of waste each year, including needles from routine vaccinations, tissue removed during surgeries, trace chemicals from IV lines, and supplies contaminated during patient care.
Despite the large volume, less than 8% of hospital waste is classified as regulated medical waste (RMW), as reported by Practice Greenhealth. RMW refers to waste known or reasonably expected to contain a pathogen, including a waste or reusable material derived from the medical treatment of an animal or human, which includes diagnosis and immunization, or from biomedical research, which includes the production and testing of biological products. These wastes, such as items saturated with blood, contaminated sharps, non-hazardous pharmaceuticals, trace chemotherapeutic, and pathological wastes require specialized treatment via autoclave or incineration.
While healthcare administrators often concentrate on internal waste handling—like proper disposal procedures and scheduled pickups—it is equally critical to understand the treatment process that occurs after RMW leaves the facility. As good environmental stewards, healthcare organizations should understand how RMW is treated outside their facility and verify that their partners meet applicable requirements to reduce risk and protect their reputation.
What Happens After Medical Waste is Collected?
After pickup, RMW must be treated before final disposal, so it can be safely sent to a landfill or waste-to-energy facility.
