How To Dispose of Medical Waste In Western Australia

Waste is a hot topic as of late, especially for Western Australians. This garbage, as it's most often referred to, is often the result of things we, in our daily lives, do. Unfortunately, we're accumulating more and more waste than we understand how to get rid of. With landfills filling up and a growing worldwide concern for our earth, it's important we understand how to properly dispose of our waste and look for new and convenient solutions to deal with it.

What is Waste Management?

Waste management is defined as the discipline of operating systems that sort, collect, recycle and dispose of all kinds of waste. This covers all aspects of handling from its inception to final disposal. Waste management is a very important issue, as in the past, residential and industrial by-products have been deposited into overstuffed landfills or the environment (think bodies of water) which has contributed to significant increase in pollution and a loss of natural resources. Nowadays, it's beneficial for companies to adopt sustainable waste management services in order to promote safe practices and perform under the regulations of the state. 

Medical Waste

Have you ever wondered what happens to medical waste? How do we dispose of it? 

Waste management is a major concern for health facilities in Australia. Primarily generated in hospitals, doctors’ offices, veterinary clinics and other medical facilities, biohazardous waste is produced as a result of surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy or lab work. When not disposed of adequately, it poses great environmental and health risks. It doesn’t just stop there. Failing to adhere to your state’s regulations and laws for the disposal of medical waste could lead to legal issues ranging from penalties to fines or possibly jail time. 

Types of Medical Waste

There are four general categories of biohazardous waste. Each form must be segregated, identified, decontaminated and disposed of in an appropriate manner to minimize occupational exposure and environmental release risks.

Pathological

This includes the tissue, organs and body parts of human or animal material that has been removed during surgery or autopsy. 

Liquid

Bulk quantities of human blood, blood products or bodily fluids are also considered biohazardous waste because of the risk for contamination with diseases like HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B and C

Sharps

Sharp objects contaminated with human or animal material like syringes, needles and lancets are another category of medical waste that must be disposed of carefully to prevent the spread of disease through accidental needle pricks or spills on skin

Solids

Any solid material (not-sharp) contaminated with any kind of pathogen (including viruses) should always be treated as if it were infectious. This includes, but is not limited to, disposable PPE, bandages, plasticware (specimen vials), towel and sample containers 

How to Dispose of Medical Waste

It is important to dispose of medical waste correctly, as it can be a health risk to both patients and staff if not disposed of correctly. There are many different options to choose from when deciding how to dispose of your medical

Here are two of the most common methods:

• Disposal through your local council – This is by far the easiest solution, but it may not be available in all areas. You can check with your local council to find out if they offer this service. They will take care of everything for you so that you don’t have to worry about the logistics
• Disposal through a medical waste disposal company – If your local government doesn’t provide this service you can always call on a professional licensed company, such as Cleanpro,  for your disposal needs. These facilities are required by law to follow strict protocols when handling and disposing of potentially harmful medical waste. They do the research and the legwork for you so you don't have to. 

Medical Waste Management in Western Australia

In compliance with the Environmental Protection Act 1986, Western Australia's Waste Management Policy requires all healthcare facilities to submit their biomedical waste for proper disposal by licensed contractors.

The regulations provide for three main types of disposal:

• Incineration
  The most common method used by hospitals and other healthcare providers involves burning the waste in an incinerator, which converts into ash and gases (most of which are non-toxic). The ash can then be safely disposed of at landfills or as landfill cover material. Incineration is effective for reducing the volume of waste produced during treatment, but produces some potentially harmful emissions.

• Autoclaving (steam sterilisation)
  High temperatures of steam pressure sterilise waste materials in this method by killing bacteria and viruses. Autoclaving is used for heat-sensitive materials like surgical instruments (needles and syringes) and equipment that cannot withstand the high temperatures needed for incineration. It also provides a more efficient method of destroying toxins than incineration because it can reach higher temperatures.

• Manual treatment (shredding, grinding or disinfecting)
  This treatment involves transporting the waste to an approved facility where it is placed into a container along with disinfectant chemicals and mixed together until all pathogens have been destroyed (usually within 24 hours). Manual treatment can also involve physically removing, sorting and treating the waste. This treatment should only be used for non-hazardous materials.
  
  

Compliance in the Handling, Treatment, and Disposal of Medical Waste

Majority of healthcare facilities have specialised bins where biohazardous waste is usually red bagged. Under no circumstances should you ever throw your medical waste into a regular garbage or dumpster. Dumping your medical waste at the wrong facility could contaminate other people's garbage (just one of many risks to worry about), which could lead to serious health problems for those who live near a landfill site.

Western Australia's medical waste management regulations are based on guidelines set out by the Australian Government, which are used to standardise and improve the way that all healthcare facilities dispose of their waste products. Due to the process being so regulated, disposing of medical waste can be tricky. The Medical Waste Management Act of 2004 quite literally deems it an offense if done wrong. You must comply with the law, policies and standards in relation to the handling, treatment and disposal of medical waste to avoid any repercussions. 

Hiring a waste management company to help dispose of your biohazardous waste takes all the guesswork out of the way and you can rest assured that you are complying with all regulations set out by the government. 

Outsourcing

Biohazardous waste is harmful to both human and wildlife health if not properly disposed of. It’s also extremely hard on the environment. This process can be potentially life-threatening if it is not handled correctly. That’s why it’s best to hire another company to do it for you. 

Disposing of medical waste can be a complicated process and it's not something that you want to do on your own. With so many alternative options to dispose of medical waste in Western Australia, there’s no reason you should be dealing with it yourself. It’s also illegal to do so. 

If you are a healthcare provider or facility, you're likely already aware of the strict state and federal regulations regarding the proper disposal of unused medical equipment. With so much at stake, it's best to outsource. Here are some things to keep in mind when disposing of your medical waste:

• Medical waste can't be placed in garbage bags. You must use an approved container that is labelled with a biohazard symbol
• The containers must be closed and sealed properly before being transported offsite
• You can't transport medical waste on public roads unless it's in an approved vehicle and being transported by a licensed medical waste transporter.

SWS Group 

The disposal of medical wastes must be done with utmost care and you should know the procedure before you even think of getting rid of it. If we’ve scared you off with the risks and the process seems too daunting of an undertaking to think about, there’s a solution for that. 

Hiring a waste management company such as Cleanpro to help dispose of your medical waste will ensure that you are complying with all regulations set out by the government in a suitable manner (minus the headache). It doesn’t have to be hard and we encourage you to let the professionals take care of the legwork for you. 

The professionals at SWS Group provide affordable and efficient medical waste disposal services in Western Australia. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, they understand the many regulations surrounding medical waste disposal and stand by their promise to ensure the delicate process will run smoothly. The company's medical waste management services are professional, comprehensive and comply with all national requirements so you have one less thing to worry about. 

We’d recommend contacting a team member from the SWS Group to discuss your options and learn how to get rid of your medical waste safely and legally today.