Is Hospital Waste Recyclable?
11/29/2022
Each year, 2 million tons of medical waste is produced across the world. This infectious or hazardous waste is produced at hospitals, homes, and veterinary clinics. This massive amount of waste is mostly dumped in landfills where it becomes hidden and forgotten.It’s common to wonder whether this type of waste can be recycled. Unfortunately, it can’t. Waste facilities also think that it’s not worth the effort since it would be more costly and take more time to complete. Continue reading to better understand recycling hospital waste.
What Medical Waste Can You Recycle?
Operating rooms produce 20% to 33% of the total waste in hospitals. The issue is that most of the items used here are sterile, so to ensure safety, single-use items are utilized such as IV bags. Most of these are made of plastic. It was discovered that around 23% of surgical waste can be reused.
How Can Medical Waste Be Recycled?
Fortunately, most plastic waste can be recycled easily through sterilization. Then, the plastic is melted down and reused. 19% of produced operating room waste is from sterilized blue wraps. Before, it was believed that parts of these blue wraps contained lead. It was also challenging to sterilize, so it was disposed of right away. Then, it was discovered that the lead from these blue wraps can be removed, melted, and reused for making plastic bottles and other items made of plastic.
Conclusion
Although most medical waste is hard to recycle, it’s still possible to be recycled. In doing so, we can reduce not only the risks of this waste harming people but the environment as well.
What Medical Waste Can You Recycle?
Operating rooms produce 20% to 33% of the total waste in hospitals. The issue is that most of the items used here are sterile, so to ensure safety, single-use items are utilized such as IV bags. Most of these are made of plastic. It was discovered that around 23% of surgical waste can be reused.
How Can Medical Waste Be Recycled?
Fortunately, most plastic waste can be recycled easily through sterilization. Then, the plastic is melted down and reused. 19% of produced operating room waste is from sterilized blue wraps. Before, it was believed that parts of these blue wraps contained lead. It was also challenging to sterilize, so it was disposed of right away. Then, it was discovered that the lead from these blue wraps can be removed, melted, and reused for making plastic bottles and other items made of plastic.
Conclusion
Although most medical waste is hard to recycle, it’s still possible to be recycled. In doing so, we can reduce not only the risks of this waste harming people but the environment as well.