Medical Waste Disposal - Contact a Lawyer

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Hazards

May infect other people who come in contact with trash.
Unwanted or expired medicines or pharmaceuticals could be harmful to children or adults.
Antibiotics poured down the drain can kill beneficial microbes and bacteria in septic systems and may adversely affect fish and other marine organisms.

Handling

Keep sharp objects such as needles, syringes, and lancelets in secure containers out of the reach of children. Do not use glass.

Management

By law, once a prescription has been issued, the pharmacy cannot take it back. Wrap well and place in the trash.
Individuals who have received cancer treatment drugs or radioactive medicines should follow specific instructions issued by the hospital on disposal of radioactive waste materials.
Place disposable sheets, medical gloves and soiled bandages in plastic bags and securely close before you put them in the trash.

For disposal of medical sharps such as needles, syringes, and lancets, check with your health department to see if they have a collection program. If not and your disposal company allows disposal in the trash, place sharps in a rigid plastic or metal container with a screw-on or secure lid, such as a detergent or soda bottle. Reinforce the lid with heavy-duty tape. Label container "CONTAINS SHARPS" and dispose of in the trash.

If no sharps collection program is available and disposal in the trash is not allowed, purchase a postage paid mail back container to have your sharps disposed through a medical waste incinerator. The following three companies that have mail back programs for sharps. All three provide a variety of container sizes with prepaid mailing cartons. When the container is full, it can be placed in its carton and mailed directly to their designated facility for incineration.

Definition:   Medical waste is generally defined under state regulations. Medical waste is often described as any solid waste that is generated in the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals, in research pertaining thereto, or in the production or testing of biologicals, including but not limited to:

• blood-soaked bandages culture dishes and other glassware discarded surgical gloves - after surgery discarded surgical instruments - scalpels needles - used to give shots or draw blood cultures, stocks, swabs used to innoculate cultures removed body organs - tonsils, appendices, limbs, etc.
• lancets - the little blades the doctor pricks your finger with to get a drop of blood

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