Infection Control Manual, Standard Precautions

Standard Precautions

Transmission-Based Precautions

Barrier Protection

Sharps Disposal

Patient Placement

Patient Transport

Food and Nutrition

	RMW
	Routine Waste
	Decon. of Spills
	Decon. of Clothing

Patient/Visitor Exposures

Linen/Laundry Services

Medical Emergencies

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Yale New Haven Hospital
QISS
GB 325
New Haven, CT
06504 USA

Dr. Jeff Topal
688-4634


Disposal of Medical Waste, pg 5

Routine Waste

Routine waste is disposed of in unmarked trash receptacles lined with a clear, brown, black or buff polyliner. Routine waste includes a variety of items, such as:

	Patient care materials contaminated with less than 20cc of blood or bloody drainage. These items may be contained by pulling a glove over the object to enclose the waste before disposal into a routine/general trash receptacle.
	Empty IV bags are deposited into routine waste and glass IV bottles are placed into glass only non-regulated medical waste obtained from Environmental Services. Small glass medication vials that are empty which cannot be opened should be placed into the sharps box.
	Waste generated from Peritoneal Dialysis, once fluids have been emptied appropriately into the sewer system, both bags and tubing should be deposited into non-regulated waste containers.
	General fluid containers, such as paper cartons, and metal or plastic containers. Empty all liquids into the sanitary sewer system before disposing of the container into the routine/general waste.
	Other routine/general waste items, such as paper, packaging, food stuffs, and items that are considered to be usual household waste.

It is important not to overfill waste containers or handle trash bags in a manner which may promote breakage. RMW containers and puncture resistant glass containers are sealed and wheeled off site in carts. Double bagging of discarded trash is not necessary unless the bag is very heavy, punctured, torn, or leaking. In these cases, a second liner should be employed to safely contain the waste. All trash bags must be securely tied or sealed when they are ready to be removed from their point of origin, and a new liner should be placed in the receptacle. If the waste basket becomes soiled, it should be cleaned using an EPA-approved disinfectant. Any healthcare worker who is accidentally exposed to waste items that have been or may have been contaminated by blood or body substances should report the incident and seek appropriate follow-up immediately through Occupational Health Services (OHS).

Certain departments within the Medical Center, such as the Pathology Laboratories, the Operating Room, the Labor and Delivery Unit, the Emergency Department, and various research areas, may generate infectious waste materials which are unique to that department. These waste articles, which might include items such as pathological and animal wastes or cultures of infectious agents, should be managed according to specific departmental policies and procedures approved by Hospital Epidemiology (Department of Quality Improvement Support Services) and/or the Environmental Services Department.

Environmental Considerations for HIV Transmission

The AIDS virus is not stable in the external environment outside the body, and environmentally mediated HIV transmission has never been documented. Studies of the survival of HIV in the environment have found that it is rapidly inactivated after drying and following exposure to commonly used EPA-approved disinfectants. Accordingly, no extraordinary procedures are required in existing sterilization, disinfection, housekeeping, laundry, or waste handling procedures.

Last modified: September 30, 2002.

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