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Clinical Medical Waste Management
(In Brief)

5 Steps To Better Sharps, Biohazard & Pharmaceutical Waste Management
San Diego Medical Waste has developed a "best practices" medical waste disposal process to help insure the safety of our team and yours.  The following 5 steps will provide a seamless disposal process and minimize exposure to employees.

**Sharps containers are single use and are expendable to the generator.  Sharps containers may be purchased from San Diego Medical Waste Services separately from your disposal service by visiting https://www.sdmedwaste.com/shop

Any waste that does not make it into the medical waste container prior to our arrival may be placed into the new container for pickup on your next scheduled service day

STEP 1

 

Place sharps containers inside of wall mounts or on countertops and line biohazard waste containers with biohazard bags. 

STEP 4

 

Continue to repeat this process during your accumulation period and prior to your scheduled service day. Sharps waste must be placed into a sharps container prior to being placed into the regulated medical waste (RMW)

STEP 2

 

Immediately after use, properly segregate waste as follows:

  • Sharps Waste Container (Red/Translucent Red)

    • A device that has acute rigid corners, or edges.

    • Vials with NO remaining vaccine.

    • Syringes (needle attached) with NO remaining vaccine.

  • Biohazardous Waste Container (Lined with Biohazard Bag

    • Highly Communicable waste

    • Laboratory waste

    • Fluid Blood or Blood Products

    • Other potentially infectious materials (OPIM)

  • Pharmaceutical Waste Container (White/Blue)

    • A prescription, over-the-counter human or veterinary drug.

    • Vials with remaining pharmaceuticals

    • Syringes with remaining pharmaceuticals

STEP 5

 

On your scheduled service day, we will perform a one for one exchange of your onsite regulated medical waste (RMW) and deliver any pre ordered products (sharps containers, biohazard bags, etc).

Sharps%2520Disposal%2520Service%2520Proc
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NO Loose Sharps can be placed inside of this container.

NO PHARMACEUTICALS can be placed inside of this container

THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT SHARPS WASTE

  • Pharmaceuticals

  • Controlled Substances

  • Chemicals

STEP 3

 

Once full or ready to dispose, tightly close the lid. Use locking tabs and tape when available.  Place the entire sharps container in an upright position inside of the regulated medical waste (RMW) container ensuring that no needles spill out.

Prior to use, label each sharps container and biohazard bag with your facility's name, address, and phone number.

SDMEDWASTE SHORT LOGO WITH URLv1 TRANS

It is the generators responsibility to remove sharps containers and biohazard bags from patient rooms and to place them into the medical waste container prior to our arrival on their scheduled service day. 

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Medical Waste Disposal Service Overview

Medical Waste Disposal Service Overview

Pharmaceutical Waste

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Pills
Pharma Vial
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All Pharmaceuticals Must Be Placed Into A Pharmaceutical Waste Container At Point Of Generation (In Patient Room). 

**THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT PHARMACEUTICAL WASTE​

  • RCRA Pharmaceuticals

  • Controlled Substances

  • Chemicals

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Once ready for disposal, place the pharmaceutical waste containers next to (NOT INSIDE OF) the regulated medical waste (RMW) container to be picked up during your scheduled service day.

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Waste Segregation Chart

Medical Waste Segregation Chart

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Medical Waste By Type

Medical Waste By Type

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Pharma Vial
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Sharps Waste: Any device that has acute rigid corners, edges or protuberances capable of cutting or piercing, including, but not limited to: 

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  • Hypodermic needles

  • Hypodermic needles with syringes

  • Blades

  • Needles with attached tubing

  • Acupuncture needles

  • Root canal files

  • Broken glass (from health care use) 

  • Pipettes

  • Blood vials​​

Biohazardous Waste: Also known as "Other Potentially Infectious Materials (OPIM)" is the portion of the healthcare wastestream that may be contaminated by Blood Borne Pathogens (BBP) including, but not limited to:

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  • Blood

  • Bodily fluids

  • Semen & vaginal secretions

  • Cerebrospinal fluid

  • Synovial, pleural, pericardial, peritoneal and amniotic fluid,

  • Saliva in dental procedures

  • Any body fluid that is visibly contaminated with blood​

Pharmaceutical Waste: Any prescription or over-the-counter human or veterinary drug, including, but not limited to: 

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  • Syringes w/residual pharmaceuticals

  • Pill Bottles

  • Pills

  • Dental Ampule

  • Medication Vials

  • Unused Medications

  • Expired Medications

  • Dietary Supplements and Vitamins

  • Anything with an NDC#​

Types Of Medical Waste Containers

All Used Sharps Must Be Placed Into A Sharps Container At Point Of Generation (In Patient Room).  

All Biohazardous Materials Must Be Placed Into A Lined Biohazard Container At Point Of Generation (In Patient Room).  

All Pharmaceuticals Must Be Placed Into A Pharmaceutical Waste Container At Point Of Generation (In Patient Room). 

Container Types
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Bio Can
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Sharps Container Disposal Services Process

Sharps Container Disposal Process

Biohazard/Infectious Waste Disposal Services Process

Biohazard Waste Disposal Process

Non-RCRA Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal Services Process

Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal Process
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