What is considered “Medical lab waste”?

In many hospital and medical facility labs, there are a few kinds of laboratory processes that create certain types of waste. A well-organized and managed lab should identify and categorize different waste streams for better removal and processing. So, to put it simply, medical lab waste is all the waste created during lab activities in medical facilities.

Experts agree that there are three main types of lab waste – hazardous or chemical waste, regulated medical waste which usually includes biohazardous waste and non-contaminated waste (ordinary trash). It’s also good to know that waste created in different laboratory specialty areas is not the same. So, there is chemical waste created in a cytology lab and similar waste created in the histology lab. But, what is even more important is that in the recent period lab managers have witnessed the emergence of a brand new type of medical lab waste – electronic waste.

Medical lab e-waste is becoming a serious issue in many healthcare facilities. This is not a surprise because modern medical labs are relying on technology more than ever. While it is true that technology is very helpful when it comes to lab activities because it makes every process simpler and faster, it is also true that once electronic equipment and devices become obsolete they become a threat to the environment. Now let’s focus more on Lab Equipment Disposal.

In order to understand this waste, we must first name a few examples of this equipment – microscopes, centrifuges, mixers, analyzers, blood tube rockers etc. As you can see, all these devices are quite complex and include at least a few different pieces made of many different materials. Unlike ordinary medical lab equipment which usually includes materials like plastic, metal, and glass, these devices often contain toxic elements which make medical lab waste quite dangerous. Of course, when these devices and equipment are still in use they don’t represent any threat to the environment or to the people that work with them. However, once they become unwanted and obsolete (waste), they must be handled carefully. Namely, it turns out that when they are left in landfills, these devices and tools can easily deteriorate and release all the potentially hazardous elements they contain in the atmosphere. Elements like mercury, lead, cadmium and other toxic metals and elements can penetrate the soil, enter the waters and disperse into the air leaving devastating consequences to the environment.

Medical lab waste is a specific type of waste and the disposal of this waste and its handling is regulated by the law. This is especially true when it comes to electronic medical lab waste. The good news is that there are specialized recycling companies that can take good care of this waste. They have experience, efficient staff, and top notch equipment that guarantee smooth processing of any kind of medical lab waste regardless of the type. With the help of a company like this, you will know that the toxic elements are stored in a proper way and the useful elements are prepared for reuse.