Healthcare Waste: Collection, Storage and Disposal

15% of healthcare waste is classified as hazardous (WHO 2018).

In order to minimise the risk of harm from hazardous healthcare waste, it is crucial to have policies and procedures in place to ensure waste is handled, stored, packaged, labelled and transported correctly (QLD Government 2019).

What is Hazardous Waste?

The term healthcare waste describes any waste generated through clinical activity, with the majority (about 85%) considered ‘general’ (non-hazardous). Healthcare waste that poses a risk of injury, infection or harm to human health is classified as hazardous (NSW DoH 2018).

Hazardous waste includes:

• Infectious waste;
  • Waste contaminated by bodily fluids.
  • Laboratory waste (e.g. cultures and stocks).
  • Waste from clients who have infections (e.g. bandages, swabs).
• Pathological waste;
  • Human tissue, organs or fluids (not including hair, teeth and nails).
  • Contaminated animal carcasses.
• Sharps (needles, syringes, disposable scalpels and blades);
• Chemical waste (e.g. disinfectants, batteries, heavy metals in medical devices);
• Pharmaceutical waste (expired, unused or contaminated medicines and vaccines);
• Cytotoxic waste that contains genotoxic agents (e.g. cancer medications); and
• Radioactive waste.