Where Does Clinical Waste Come From?

Health institutions define clinical waste as a type of waste that comes from any medical procedure. Since there are many kinds of procedures, there are also different types of waste. Knowing that there are many types of medical procedures, there is also a variety of clinical waste that one can get.

General Usage

Tasks like shredding old medical documents, discarding thrown receipts, and even dishing out leftover foods are considered sources of clinical waste. The good thing is that the waste from such origin is usually non-hazardous.

Standard Medical Procedure

There will always be standard medical procedures done in any healthcare institution. This can be as common as getting a stool sample or as complicated as the extraction of blood.  Sharp items like syringes and soft items such as tissues and Band-Aids are some examples of clinical waste that you can get from performing standard medical procedures.

Complex Medical Procedure

Complex medical procedures usually produce radioactive waste from complex advanced equipment. They can also create toxic waste materials from laboratory activities.

Maintenance And Clean-up

Rooms are always cleaned after every use. Chemicals, rags, and other cleaning materials can be also considered clinical waste after performing maintenance procedures.

Medical Inventory

Examples of clinical waste from this source are expired medicines, rejected medical items, and containers of all sorts.

Conclusion

Note that the list above contains the activities or situations wherein clinical wastes are originating from. It is possible that in one certain situation, you can get a pile of clinical wastes that are hazardous and non-hazardous.