Medical Waste Management & Waste Streams
UCLA Health Waste Containment Guide
Medical Waste Management & Waste Streams
Medical Waste Management
Medical waste within our health system is categorized according to the hazard such that it can be appropriately treated after it leaves the hospital. It is important that all of our staff understand how to segregate medical waste to minimize contamination risk through proper disposal. These waste streams are also our most expensive and all end up in the landfill, so we conduct annual education of all staff to ensure only the appropriate items are being disposed of in the various types of bins.
Biohazardous Waste (Bloody or Infectious)
Waste contaminated with recognizable human blood, fluid human blood, fluid blood products, other body fluids that may be infectious, and containers or equipment containing fluid blood or infectious fluids.
Sharps
Sharps including hypodermic needles, hypodermic needles with attached syringes, needles with attached tubing, blades, broken glass, acupuncture needles, and pipettes.
There are two main types of sharps containers in the Health System:
Biohazard Sharps
- Red sharps containers for Biohazardous sharps: these containers are steam-sterilized before the contents go to the landfill. Pharmaceuticals should not be placed in these containers.
Pharmaceutical Sharps
2. Blue sharps containers for Pharmaceutical sharps: the contents are incinerated and the ash goes to a non-hazardous landfill.
Pharmaceutical waste and hazardous pharmaceutical waste are produced from most patient care and clinical support areas.
Pharmaceutical Waste: includes, but is not limited to unused, partially used or expired prescription or over-the-counter medications (e.g. vials, tablets, capsules, powders, liquids, creams/ lotions, eye drops, suppositories), IV bags and tubing, full syringes, glass vials and ampules, carpujets, and tubexes. Pharmaceutical waste should be placed in the blue sharps containers. The contents are incinerated and the ash goes to a non-hazardous landfill.
Hazardous Pharmaceutical Waste
Hazardous Pharmaceutical Waste includes, but is not limited to, syringes, inhalers, tubexes or IV bags/piggybacks with residual hazardous pharmaceuticals (i.e.: all cytotoxic drugs). Hazardous Pharmaceutical waste shall be placed in the black containers. The contents are incinerated and the ash goes to a hazardous waste lined landfill.
Controlled Substances
Controlled Substances disposal must be witnessed by two licensed practitioners and documented on the witness verification form.
Pills, tablets, capsules, patches, vials, Ampules & IV Tubing: Draw out remaining content and expunge into container, dispose of the empty as pharmaceutical waste, IVs: drain content into container, syringes: expunge content into container and dispose of empty syringe into sharps container.
Chemotherapeutic Waste
Chemotherapeutic waste is a product of oncology patient care activities. It’s generated from and managed by dedicated inpatient units, outpatient clinics and Pharmacy.
Chemo waste consists of materials which previously contained or had contact with chemotherapeutic agents including tubing, empty bags, bottles, vials, syringes, gloves, masks, gowns and wipes. In addition, any materials used to clean up spills or otherwise contaminated through incidental contact.
Trace Chemotherapeutic Waste: Containers which previously held chemo agents are considered empty if (1) the liquid residue can no longer be poured or, (2) the solid material can no longer be removed by scraping. Trace chemo waste should be placed in the yellow containers. The contents are incinerated and the ash goes to a non-hazardous landfill.
Mixed Medical Waste
Hazardous Chemicals
Medical waste mixed with hazardous chemicals is generated primarily in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine areas from activities associated with tissue fixing and preservation. The chemicals are usually solvents such as alcohol and xylenes, or formalin.
This waste is maintained within and under the control of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. Once designated as waste, it is segregated and stored in a specified, posted area. All containers are labeled accordingly.
Before this type of medical waste is disposed, the chemical is decanted off by a licensed hazardous waste contractor. The pathology waste and chemical waste are incinerated separately.
Radioactive Materials
Medical waste contaminated with radioactive materials may be generated from any patient care area, originating from patients who recently underwent nuclear medicine procedures, either in- or outpatient.
This type of mixed waste is usually in the form of excrement or materials which have had contact with excrement, from these patients. It is identified as waste when (1) initially generated or (2) when passed through a radiation detector.
Other radioactive waste is generated in Nuclear Medicine and is properly disposed of through Campus Radiation Safety.
Either way, radioactive medical waste is segregated and stored in a placed in a designated, secure area and monitored until the activity level drops below threshold, at which point the waste re-enters the medical waste stream.
Lab Generated Hazardous Waste
Ensuring the safe disposal of lab-generated pathology waste is critical for maintaining a safe environment and complying with health regulations. All pathology waste, including tissue samples, slides, and related materials, must be disposed of in designated biohazard containers. These containers should be clearly labeled "Pathology Waste" and "Incineration Only" and securely sealed before being transported to a licensed medical waste disposal facility. Follow all institutional and regulatory guidelines to prevent contamination and ensure proper handling.