Disposal of wastes needs to be done carefully. While most homes generate a modest quantity of waste per day, the amount goes up for facilities and laboratories. Trying to discard them by putting them into trash bins is not recommended. Any kind of biological waste is highly contagious and coming in contact with it can jeopardize your life and health adversely. You must ensure to utilize proper procedure when you need to deal with chemotherapy waste disposal.
Sure, chemotherapy is a treatment procedure essential for patients with cancer. Other patients admitted to the same facility do not have to be at an increased risk because a cancer patient is undergoing chemotherapy. There are strict protocols in place and you need to follow them carefully to stop contaminating other patients and perfectly healthy workers in the health facility.
It is necessary to be aware of the associated facts before attempting to dispose of the wastes generated after a session of chemotherapy. Here are a few things that you must learn when you are working in a cancer unit as a doctor, caregiver, or cleaner:
Controlled Substances
It is common for such units to store large quantities of medicinal drugs on the premises. Pain-reducing drugs may also be used to provide relief to the patient. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has guidelines in place advising all such facilities to follow them when trying to dispose of the medicines both before and after use. The facilities engaged in the distribution of such products also need to be registered with “The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “The process of disposal may vary depending on the quantity generated and the purpose. It is best to hire a recognized and registered special waste disposal provider to do the needful instead of trying to undertake this hazardous task yourself.
Trace Wastes
There are several products used during the administration of chemotherapy. None of such products would be used for a second time. It is essential, therefore, to discard the following carefully as they are likely to contain traces of chemicals used as a part of the treatment process.
- Personal protection equipment (PPE)
- Vials and syringes
- IV bags
- Tubes
- Wipes/pads
- Towels
It is essential to incinerate them and put the remnants into yellow-colored containers to be discarded as per the safe practices.
Bulk Wastes
Drugs that are not considered to be empty of contaminants constitute bulk wastes as per the RCRA. Such items also include the things that were used to clean up a sill or PPE that had been contaminated. Bags, containers, vials holding the highly toxic Arsenic trioxide are advised to be washed at least three times before being discarded in the right-colored disposal container.
The process of finding the best disposal company that is capable of meeting the safety procedure and successfully disposing the wastes should not pose a challenge. You would do well to hire a highly acclaimed provider for chemotherapy waste disposal that is known for its transparency and affordability as well.
