Choosing the right medical waste management company can be a daunting task. After all, if you choose the wrong partner, and that partner makes a mistake with your waste, you could be financially liable.
Here are 4 things to avoid when hiring a medical waste management company.
- Not Checking the Basics
Waste management companies are required to have insurance to handle, transport, and dispose of certain waste material. It’s important you ensure whatever company you go with can protect your practice against the waste it generates. For example, do they have adequate insurance? When do you stop being responsible for the waste your practice generates? If the driver causes a wreck with your waste on-board, do you know if that falls back on your practice? If not this is a problem.
- Not Going with a Flexible Company
If you’re like most doctor’s offices, you have varying waste needs. You might be extremely busy during a certain part of the year, like the winter months, and not so busy during other parts of the year, perhaps the summer months. It’s important to choose a company that is flexible enough to scale up and down with your practice. This will make your life much easier and save you money so you don’t have to work with several companies.
- Choosing a Company Not Fully Versed in the paperwork
Destruction of medical waste has paperwork associated with it. This can include a bill of lading, a manifest, or something else. All of this paperwork is your proof that you are in
full compliance
with all local, state and federal disposal laws. Should you ever be audited, you will need this paperwork to prove compliance. When choosing a waste management company, it’s important to choose a company that is fully versed in this paperwork and follows the law with every single occurrence.
- Foregoing Customer Service
You may assume customer service isn’t that big of a deal when it comes to waste management companies, but knowledgeable, reputable, and reliable customer service can make your whole practice run smoother. Should you ever have a question, or need to reschedule a waste pickup, you’ll want to work with a company that will answer your calls and provide fast service.
Check out our practice savings calculator here to see how much you could save on your medical waste disposal.
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If you’re looking for a low-cost medical waste management provider that’s reliable
and
flexible, with a dedicated customer service staff, give us a call today.
Common Questions
- What counts as medical waste?
- Medical waste is any waste generated during the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of humans or animals that may be contaminated with blood, body fluids, or other infectious material — including sharps, blood-soaked dressings, cultures, and pathological tissue. Non-contaminated items like standard packaging are not regulated medical waste.
- How much does medical waste disposal cost?
- Cost depends on waste volume, pickup frequency, container size, waste type, and location. Most practices pay a flat monthly or per-pickup rate rather than being billed per pound. Typical monthly costs range from about $50-$200 for small practices and dental offices up to $1,000+ for long-term care facilities, with hospitals and large health systems running $1,000-$50,000+ per month — see our full pricing breakdown by facility type. MedPro customers also save an average of 30% by switching from their previous provider.
- What's the difference between medical waste and biohazard waste?
- Biohazard waste is a subset of medical waste. Medical waste is the broad category (including sharps and pharmaceuticals); biohazard waste specifically refers to material containing or potentially containing infectious agents.
- What happens to medical waste after pickup?
- Most regulated medical waste is autoclaved (steam-sterilized) to achieve at least a 6-log reduction in microorganisms. Waste that can't be autoclaved — pathological or chemotherapy waste — is typically incinerated under EPA air-quality controls. You receive documentation confirming compliant treatment.
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