8 Advantages of Medical Waste Containers in Healthcare Sector

8 Advantages of Medical Waste Containers in Healthcare Sector

Medical waste containers have become an integral part of the hospital management system. Medical waste collection can be assisted by using diverse types of containers. With the increasing incidences of hospital-acquired infections, it has become compulsory for healthcare centers to have proper management of biomedical waste.

Furthermore, governments have also instigated strict safety and environmental conservation policies concerning the disposal and containment of waste. The medical waste produced from these surgeries necessity apt disposable container, as the demand for medical waste containers has been increasing.

What is medical waste?

A subset of waste that is been generated in healthcare facilities including hospitals, dentistry, blood banks, veterinary clinics, and medical research laboratories is called medical waste or biomedical waste. In other words, medical waste is any type of waste that contains potentially infectious material.

 It includes sharp needles, scalpels, razors, infectious waste like swabs, tissues, and lab culture, radioactive waste, pathological, pharmaceuticals, genotoxic waste, etc.

What are medical waste containers?

Medical waste containers are used to store biomedical waste. Containers are demarcated by specific colors and labels in order to make them distinct from others. As medical waste containers safely hold hazardous medical waste, these waste containers are mainly used to transport medical waste to the disposal site.

As biomedical waste is safely segregated, disposed of, and transported in the medical waste containers, it reduces the chances of infection.

The medical waste container as a product outlook

Chemotherapy Containers:

The chemotherapy waste is generated during the preparation as well as the administration of chemotherapy. These wastes include vials, medicinal bags, IV tubing, and needle system. All these materials are used during the chemotherapy sessions. So proper disposal of such waste is mandatory.

Biohazardous Medical Waste Containers:

Containers are designed especially for the collection of biohazardous waste. It is either made up of metals or plastics. It is safe and secure to store medical waste in this type of container. They are vital to be used in the assortment of specific types of waste.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Containers:

RCRA was enacted by the EPA. This act came into existence in order to regulate the disposal of hazardous waste. The containers have special RCRA labeling on it. The RCRA containers are transportable and allow operators to use only one unit for disposal, transportation, and storage.

What are the different types of Waste produced in hospitals?

General Medical Waste

Those medical waste that is generated at healthcare places during surgeries, hospital waste, and in research laboratories. General hospital waste is included in the bulk of medical waste produced typically in household and office waste. This waste is not very harmful.

Infectious Medical Waste

Any waste that is capable of causing infections are called infectious medical waste. These wastes include blood, tissues, cellular content, or body fluid.

Hazardous Medical Waste

Those biomedical wastes that are dangerous means they are sharp materials. But it does not cause any infection is included in hazardous waste. Sharp knives, needles, scalpel, or any such material are hazardous in nature.

Who are the users of the medical waste containers?

Biomedical waste containers are used by hospitals & private clinics, diagnostic laboratories, and Research Institutes. At all these places the waste generated can be hazardous and infectious for both humans and animals. So the waste produced must be properly disposed of.

How important it is to handle, segregate, store, and manage healthcare waste?

According to WHO, it is mandatory to have effective management of the biomedical waste generated in the hospitals. For this segregation of waste is a key step to be taken. Waste should be sorted into different categories and should be kept in a well-labeled medical waste container. Chemical waste, radioactive infectious waste, pharmaceutical waste, waste containing heavy metals, highly infectious waste all should be properly disposed of. It reduces the chances of infection.

Advantages of using a medical waste container

  1. The use of medical waste containers reduces the chances of contamination of water and soil.
  2. It helps to control the arousal of nosocomial disease.
  3. It blocks the cycle of infection.
  4. Proper disposal of medical waste in container ensures the safety of healthcare workers.
  5. If waste is disposed of in containers, it prevents the illegal reselling and repackaging of contaminated and used needles.
  6. Biomedical containers reduce the transmission of infectious diseases like AIDS, Hepatitis, etc.
  7. It also controls the spread of zoonotic diseases.
  8. It saves the environment.

The bottom line

The Medical Waste Containers Market has been witnessing rapid growth as there is an increased occurrence of hospital-acquired infections. There are different types of waste that are generated in healthcare facilities including General Medical Waste, Infectious Medical Waste, and Hazardous Medical Waste.

Furthermore, with the occurrence of the COVID-19, it has now become extremely important to have a very strong medical waste disposable system. The management of medical waste is of boundless importance due to its associated potential environmental impacts as well as public health hazards.

The Global Medical Waste Containers Market has been anticipated to rise at a growth rate of 7.1% CAGR over the forecast period.