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Infection Prevention, and Control Guidelines for Primary Care Physicians
Waste Management
Introduction:
Waste from any health care facility is divided into two categories: biomedical and general. Legislation dictates that biomedical waste be handled and disposed of in a manner that avoids transmission of potential infections. It is necessary to understand the differences between these types of waste so that clinics and private offices can separate the waste, and make arrangements for appropriate disposal of biomedical waste. The Ontario Ministry of the Environment’s Guideline C-4, The Management of Biomedical Waste in Ontario (1994), addresses waste generated from professional offices.
Best Practices:
Biomedical Waste:
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Anatomical waste consists of:
1. Tissues, organs and body parts, not including teeth, hair and nails
Non-anatomical waste, limited to:
1. Human cultures or specimens, excluding urine and feces submitted for analysis, live or attenuated vaccines
2. Human liquid blood or semi-liquid blood and blood products, items contaminated with blood or blood products that would release liquid or semi-liquid blood if compressed, body fluids visibly contaminated with blood, and body fluids removed in the course of surgery, treatment, excluding urine and feces;
3. Sharps including needles, needles attached to syringes, and blades; or
4. Broken glass or other materials which are capable of causing punctures or cuts and which have come into contact with human blood or body fluid.
- Storage:
- Transportation for disposal:
- Biomedical waste containers shall be sealed, locked or closed such that no biomedical waste is likely to be released or discharged during transportation
- When the weight of the biomedical waste is less than 5 kilograms in total, and accompanied by a person who is trained for that purpose may transport the biomedical waste; and
- The generator maintains written records of the date, quantity and destination of the biomedical waste transported for a minimum of two years
- When biomedical waste is to be transported off-site for treatment or disposal by the generator and the biomedical waste is 5 kilograms or more, Sections 18 and 19 of Regulation 347 and Section 27 of the EP Act apply. The generator shall obtain a Provisional Certificate of Approval for a waste management system issued under Part V of the EP Act.
- Biomedical waste shall only be transported to an existing hospital incinerator or a facility for which a Certificate of Approval has been issued which authorizes the acceptance of biomedical waste
- General Waste:
- Includes all other garbage that does not contain biomedical waste (e.g. gloves, sponges, dressings, general office supplies)
- Waste collection containers should be emptied daily and when full
- Ensure all garbage containers are waterproof and have tight-fitting lids, preferably operated by a foot pedal. Open wastebaskets might be dangerous if children are around them.
- Use plastic bags to line the garbage containers. The use of double bagging is not necessary unless the bag has a tear, is leaking or the outside is visibly soiled.
- Do not overfill garbage containers
- Do not place sharp, hard or heavy objects into plastic bags that could cause bags to burst
- May be disposed of as regular garbage
- Waste handlers should wear protective apparel and have received Hepatitis B vaccination
References:
Canadian Committee on Antibiotic Resistance (2007) Infection Prevention and Control Best Practices for Long Term Care, Home and Community Care including Health Care offices and Ambulatory Clinics
College of Physicians and surgeons of Ontario (2004) Infection Control in the Physicians Office
Centre for Disease Control (2003), Guidelines for environmental infection control in healthcare facilities, MMWR, Vol. 52, No.RR10.
Health Canada (1998), Hand washing, cleaning and sterilization in health care. CCDR, Vol. 24S8.
Ministry of the Environment (1994), The Management of Biomedical Waste in Ontario |
