Biohazardous Waste
Managing waste is key to healthcare. Improper disposal of Biological Hazards may lead to infection spreading among your patients, nurses, or researchers. If you have questions about biohazard bag colors, read our guide below.
Biohazard Waste Bags
Where do you dispose of biohazard waste bags?
These heavy-duty Infectious Waste Bags are thick walled and chemical resistant. Ideal for the collection and transportation of contaminated laboratory waste. To ensure that the waste is deposited into the right waste stream, use our collection of Biohazard Liners that are properly labeled. Don't forget to buy our steel step biohazard waste containers that ease hands-free waste disposal. Select the right size and color and make your waste transportation processes safe and reliable. Affordable and reliable medical waste containers and Infectious Waste Bags.
Disposing Medical Waste Is Simple; Follow This Guide
You may be wondering: what goes in yellow biohazard waste bags? What exactly is the difference between red and yellow bags? To comply with OSHA standards, follow the law. Well, according to the Medical Waste Management Act of 2017, all medical waste shall be disposed of in red bags, except in one case.¹
Section 117630 of the Medical Waste Management Act defines the color of biohazard waste bags and reads:
(c) The color of the bag shall be red, EXCEPT when yellow bags are used to further segregate trace chemotherapy waste and white bags are used to further segregate pathology waste. The biohazard bag shall be marked with the international biohazard symbol and may be labeled by reference as authorized by the USDOT.”
All medical waste, bodily fluids, etc. goes in red bags. Blood-borne pathogens are not to be trifled with, ensure proper disposal of potentially infectious material. Sharps must be disposed of in sharp-containers. For chemo, your office can separate chemotherapy waste and other bodily fluids from your other hazardous waste.
For example, an oncology office may have up to 3 bags: red, yellow, and white.
✔ Red is for all medical waste
✔ Yellow is for trace chemotherapy waste
✔ White is used to further segregate pathology waste.
If you are in a jurisdiction outside the purview of the Medical Waste Management Act, you can read more about international medical waste disposal guidelines.² If you operate within the EU, then generally all your waste will go in yellow bags with the same biohazard symbol, with the option to further segregate waste into brown bags. EU biohazard waste management guidelines are similar to the US, but with different color bags.³
All types of medical waste must be disposed of in the right hazardous trash bags. Segregating medical waste allows medical staff to handle the waste easily and send the right items to the right disposal. Moreover, this is a great environmental practice that prevents the spread of diseases.
Improper disposal of medical waste can result in increased health risks, including:
- Used syringes on the seashores
- Infectious blood contaminating landfills, rivers, soil
- Pathogens contaminating air
- Animals sickened after exposure to medical waste
- Sharp objects can cause injuries, infections
Dispose of Medical Waste Correctly
Follow these 3 easy and simple steps:
- Dispose of medical waste in the correct bag
- Label the bag
- Place outer bag in a biohazard container (not a regular trash can!)
Bags of biohazard waste cannot be stored on the floor; proper receptacles are required by law.⁴ Your medical facility should have proper outer and inner bags for your biohazard container (e.g. medical waste trash can). Ensure proper disposal of all hazardous specimen.
Did you know that biohazardous waste can pose a threat to the environment? Proper usage of BioHazard Waste Bags are an important part of medical and healthcare fields. Without proper disposal, your dental office or other health care facility is at risk of violating the law. Improper disposal leads to fines and a loss of patient trust.
The Medical Waste Management Act of 2017 provides legal guidelines for the disposing of medical waste.
Were you aware of the challenges facing in-home nurses? In 2018, the NIH found that 54% of in-home nurses want Hazardous Waste Disposal Training. Meanwhile, proper hazardous waste disposal education reached only 8% of in-home nurses.⁵
Without the proper disposal of medical waste, everyone is put at risk. Thankfully, Medical Waste Management is simple.