By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    learn to recognize and treat yeast infections
    Most Commonly Asked Questions About Yeast Infections
    November 17, 2021
    Advanced lung cancer diagnosis systems used by doctors
    Advanced Lung Cancer Diagnosis Systems Used by Doctors
    March 6, 2022
    The Top Benefits of a Wearable Blood Pressure Monitor Watch
    The Top Benefits of a Wearable Blood Pressure Monitor Watch
    June 13, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    ACEP 2014 Emergency Care Report Card
    Emergency Physicians Give Emergency Care in America a D+
    January 23, 2014
    Understanding the Legal Aspects of Wrongful Death in Healthcare
    Understanding the Legal Aspects of Wrongful Death in Healthcare
    January 16, 2025
    health wonk review
    Health Wonk Review: In Like a Lion
    February 28, 2014
    Latest News
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: How Medical Professionals Should Handle Waste During COVID-19
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > Hospital Administration > How Medical Professionals Should Handle Waste During COVID-19
Hospital Administration

How Medical Professionals Should Handle Waste During COVID-19

emilyfolk
emilyfolk
Share
5 Min Read
SHARE

  Properly handling medical waste and following disposal regulations can be a significant challenge, even with robust procedures and policies in place. These challenges are amplified by the current crisis, which is beginning to put considerable strain on medical facilities and increase the amount of waste they generate. There are also federal regulations and guidance regarding COVID 19-contaminated waste that medical professionals should be aware of. Most notably, a new EPA policy has relaxed enforcement of certain environmental regulations during the outbreak. Here is how professionals should handle medical waste during the COVID-19 crisis.

Contents
What We Know About Coronavirus-Related Medical WasteLegal Guidelines Medical Professionals Need to FollowGuidelines and Best Practices for Handling Coronavirus-Related Medical Waste

What We Know About Coronavirus-Related Medical Waste

If the outbreak in America is similar to what was seen in China, hospitals and disposal companies are about to deal with a major uptick in medical waste. Wuhan, the city most impacted by the outbreak, was producing more than six times the average amount of medical waste in mid-March, pushing all facilities in the city to capacity. The increase in waste is generated by the number of patients, rather than the disease itself. It’s mostly in the form of used PPE and nontraditional waste contaminated with COVID-19. While it isn’t known right now how long COVID-19 can survive on various surfaces, current research suggests that the virus can live for up to three days on plastic and stainless steel. Medical waste, even if it is several days old, may still pose a risk of transmission if not properly disposed of. Medical waste in America hasn’t hit Wuhan levels yet, but there is evidence that it’s beginning to accelerate. Stericycle, one of the country’s largest medical waste processors, has already reported a significant increase in used PPE over the past few weeks. Advanced waste disposal technology may be an option for some health systems. Northwell Health recently adopted a medical waste disposal platform, the Envetec 200, that simultaneously shreds and sanitizes it, producing regular trash.

Legal Guidelines Medical Professionals Need to Follow

Certain federal agencies have published more specific guidance on how medical facilities should handle waste contaminated with COVID-19. PPE should be used when handling it whenever possible to minimize the risk of transmission. Typically, medical facilities that generate hazardous waste need to ship it off-site within a certain timeframe to maintain Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) generator status. Toward the end of March, however, the EPA announced that the agency would be temporarily exercising enforcement discretion regarding environmental legal obligations during the panic. As of March 13, 2020, if compliance is not “reasonably practical,” generators will be able to keep hazardous waste on-site without losing their generator status and being reclassified as a treatment, storage and disposal facility. However, it must be properly labeled and stored. Generators will also need to note the nature and date of each specific noncompliance, as well as describe how COVID-19 was the cause. Generators classified as a Very Small Quantity Generator or Small Quantity Generator that produce and store hazardous waste in excessive volumes will still retain their status. However, this is only as long as compliance is not reasonably practical, and instances of noncompliance are properly documented.

Guidelines and Best Practices for Handling Coronavirus-Related Medical Waste

If the outbreak in America follows trends seen in China, U.S medical facilities will soon face a surge in coronavirus-contaminated medical waste. Federal agencies, in response, have issued special guidance and — in the case of the EPA — relaxed some regulations around the storage and handling of it. The changes are likely good news for medical facilities worried about losing generator status. However, it’s not clear if they will be enough to help health care centers handling the growing medical waste problem.

More Read

Physician workforce
Talking Sense About the Physician Workforce
Nine Out of Ten Hospitals Have No Plan to Achieve Patient Satisfaction
The PCMH and Home Care Data: An Interview with Melissa McCormack
How Technology Could Solve VA Healthcare Issues
The Trials of Progress in the Affordable Care Act
TAGGED:covid-19healthhospitalsmedical wastepublic health
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Health Tips For Women
Top 5 Health Tips For Women Over 45
Women Health
July 7, 2025
car accident lawsuit
Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
Policy & Law
July 6, 2025
women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025

You Might also Like

Mobile Phone-Brain Cancer Link Bewilders Epidemiologists

June 22, 2011
improve patient experience
BusinessHospital Administration

How to Improve Your Practice’s Patient Experience

May 5, 2022
4 helpful tips to reduce claim denials
BusinessFinanceHospital Administration

How Much Are Your Denied Claims Costing You? 4 Tips for Reducing Claim Denials

August 9, 2014
Artificial IntelligenceHealth careHospital AdministrationTechnology

How Chatbots And AI In The Healthcare Sector Are Changing The Industry

April 16, 2019
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?