Table of Contents
- What qualifies as regulated medical waste?
- The flow of regulated medical waste
- Sudden, extreme changes in demand flow
- Importance of proper procedures
- Proper segregation of waste
- Don’t ignore risks
- Who’s responsible?
In normal circumstances, U.S. hospitals produce more than five million tons of medical waste each year, or about 29 pounds from each staffed bed every day. Add in waste from other medical facilities, dental offices, pharmacies, veterinary clinics, funeral homes, and other medical waste generators, and that number is significantly higher. Regulated medical waste (RMW) makes up about five to 15 percent of a hospital’s total waste stream.