How Much Medical Waste Do Hospitals Produce Yearly?
5/6/2021
The top producers of medical waste are hospitals. However, how much waste exactly do they produce each year? To know the answer, continue reading below.
Medical Waste Production of Hospitals
In the United States, each hospital staff produces an average of 33 pounds of medical waste every day. That amounts to around 5.9 million tons of medical waste in a year.
The types of medical waste produced by hospitals are categorized based on the following:
● General Waste
General waste is similar to household waste. These include items such as office waste and paper. Unlike other types of medical waste, this does not require special treatments. 80% of medical waste is classified as general waste.
● Infectious Waste
Infectious waste has the potential to transmit infections to humans. These are also known as pathological waste and include items such as swabs, cultures, blood, and sharp objects.
● Hazardous Waste
Hazardous wastes are more dangerous than infectious waste hence its name. These are mostly chemicals, aerosol contains, and particular pharmaceuticals.
● Radioactive Waste
Radioactive waste has materials that have been exposed to radioactive treatments. These are commonly from cancer therapies and medical equipment.
Final Words
Hospitals are always busy and require a high level of sanitation which is why it's understandable why they produce tons of waste each day. 80% of hospital wastes are general waste which is not difficult to dispose of. However, the remaining 20%, which is divided into the remaining categories, requires specialized treatments.
Medical Waste Production of Hospitals
In the United States, each hospital staff produces an average of 33 pounds of medical waste every day. That amounts to around 5.9 million tons of medical waste in a year.
The types of medical waste produced by hospitals are categorized based on the following:
● General Waste
General waste is similar to household waste. These include items such as office waste and paper. Unlike other types of medical waste, this does not require special treatments. 80% of medical waste is classified as general waste.
● Infectious Waste
Infectious waste has the potential to transmit infections to humans. These are also known as pathological waste and include items such as swabs, cultures, blood, and sharp objects.
● Hazardous Waste
Hazardous wastes are more dangerous than infectious waste hence its name. These are mostly chemicals, aerosol contains, and particular pharmaceuticals.
● Radioactive Waste
Radioactive waste has materials that have been exposed to radioactive treatments. These are commonly from cancer therapies and medical equipment.
Final Words
Hospitals are always busy and require a high level of sanitation which is why it's understandable why they produce tons of waste each day. 80% of hospital wastes are general waste which is not difficult to dispose of. However, the remaining 20%, which is divided into the remaining categories, requires specialized treatments.