[INFOGRAPHIC] Send us your bandages, not your thumbs…

Towards the end of last year we did an Ask the Expert  interview with Tobie Muller, our resident medical waste expert. In the interview, Tobie mentioned the different types of medical waste and how they are classified, as well as which of the different waste categories Initial services.  We followed that blog with another piece on medical waste, discussing whether it can be disposed of in the same way as sanitary waste, and to complete the hat trick we finished off with a blog on the need for readily available sharps units.

But we realise that medical waste is a complex subject; it is often mis-categorised and disposed of incorrectly. Whilst you may think one medical waste container is the same as the next, that’s certainly not the case, and it is crucial that customers are aware of the differences so that they do not dispose of their waste in the incorrect unit. Doing so not only has serious legal implications, but also puts our colleagues at risk from a health and safety perspective. For example, sharps need to be disposed of in a self sealing unit: if they were to be disposed of in a pedal bin there is an increased risk of needlestick injury to both the customer and our service technicians who empty the bin.

To make it simpler, we’ve put together this infographic to remind you of how the waste streams are classified.

Contact Initial for a free survey of your medical practice or business. We’ll ensure that we provide you with the right medical waste disposal solution, and the peace of mind that goes with knowing that Initial is a registered Waste Carrier and can provide you with a Certificate of disposal.  
Contact us