Waste Management GridTrash/Solid Waste Regulated Medical Waste Incinerated Waste

Chemotherapy/Human Tissues

Pharmaceutical WasteDiscontinued, Expired and

Unused Medications

Clear/White/Brown BagsRed Bags and Sharps

ContainersYellow Containers/Path

ContainersBlack Containers

Examples:

Paper, boxes, office waste

Unused medical supplies

PPE not grossly soiled

Dressings not saturated with blood or bloody fluids/drainage

Food wastes

IV bags and tubings -NOT NEEDLES, BLOOD BAGS, CHEMO BAGS, or BLOODY LINES/TUBES

Emptied containers including catheter bags, suction containers if not used to contain blood

Diapers and underpads (unless soaked with amniotic fluid and/or blood)

Disposable basins, bedpans, NG tubes, feeding tubes, containers without bloody drainage

Non-mercury batteries

Empty aerosol cans

When possible, drain all liquids prior to disposal. Human waste can be emptied into sewer system. Always wear PPE when emptying fluids. Be especially aware of the risk of splash when disposing of fluids into a commode or hopper.

Wear eye protection to prevent a splash to your eyes

Definition: All blood/blood products and other potentially infectious fluids. These other potentially infectious fluids are semen, vaginal secretions, pleural, pericardial, cerebrospinal, amniotic, and synovial fluids and saliva following dental procedures.

Any item that has one of those fluids on it in a quantity sufficient to drip when held vertically or squeezed must be placed in red bag waste. This does not include urine, feces, vomitus, sweat, or tears unless blood is visibly present. If you do not know what the fluid is assume it is potentially infectious and dispose in red bag waste.

Examples:Microbiologic waste except culture stock and plates**

Liquid blood/blood products/ potentially infectious body fluids not otherwise discarded or flushed

Wound drains and tubes (e.g., wound sumps, Jackson-Pratt)

IV/Arterial catheters or any other line containing blood. Blood Bags

Dressings saturated with blood or bloody drainage/fluids

Glass bottles, ampules & vials

Sharps containers

Sharps containers are used for items such as needles, syringes, scalpels, pipettes, lancets, glass slides & tubes, surgical staples & wires, and disposable surgical instruments. Anything that can puncture or cut goes in the sharps container.

**culture stock and plates must be placed in the designated UN containers for disposal and transport in order to meet Dept of Transportation regulations.

Examples: Items contaminated with cytotoxic agents such as; chemotherapeutics including IV bags, tubing & other items in contact with the agent(s). Also includes solid human remains such as; pathologic specimens & body parts.

**This waste must be labeled at the point of generation. Use only appropriately labeled containers.(i.e. labeled for chemo/cytotoxic wastes or incineration)_________________________

Other Items

Other items such as mercury, solvents, paints, radioactive materials, batteries (other than regular alkaline) and formalin require additional measures during disposal. Call Environmental Services for disposal assistance or if you have questions.

Mercury and blood spill kits should be available in all areas where potential for spill of these items can be reasonably anticipated. Kits are available from General Stores.

Areas where formalin, or cytotoxic agents, is used require additional training & specialized spill management materials.

For additional information, the following departments can be of assistance:

ALL BAGS MUST BE TIED AT THE TOP WHEN LOADED FOR TRANSPORT AND DISPOSAL

Definition: If a drug is not used for its intended purpose, then it must be disposed of in a Black Bucket.

This includes expired, unused, or discontinued medication

Examples:

IV Bags w/drug, Vials, Ampoules, Inhalers, Ointment tubes, expired medication

Examples of Specific Medication:

Insulin, Vaccines, Chloraseptic, Silvadene Cream, Silver Nitrate Solution, Antibiotics, Antifungals, Steroids

Acutely Toxic Waste:

Nicotine and Warfarin (Coumadin) wrappers must be placed in a separate Black Bucket or sent back to Pharmacy.

Examples of Acutely Toxic Waste:

Packaging that contained a Nicotine patch

Packaging that contained Warfarin (Coumadin)

Your unit may have a specially marked Acutely Hazardous Black Bucket OrYou can send Nicotine and Warfarin wrappers/packaging back to the Pharmacy.

Developed by Infection Control at University of Louisville Hospital