Iowa State University
First of All, What is Biohazard Waste?
defines
biohazardous waste
as “
All biologically contaminated waste that could potentially cause harm to humans, domestic or wild animals or plants. Examples include human and animal blood, tissues, and certain body fluids, recombinant DNA, and human, animal or plant pathogens.”
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In more layman terms, biohazardous waste is any waste contaminated with potentially infectious materials.
Disposing of this waste isn’t like throwing garbage away - you have to put the waste in dedicated biohazard disposal bags, often called Red Bags, and then the bags are put into bio waste containers for safe collection and transportation.
What Are Some Examples of Biohazard Waste?
- Anything that is soaked in blood (gloves, gauze, gowns etc.)
- Human or animal tissues created during procedures
- Cultures of infectious diseases/agents
- Any waste produced in patient’s rooms with communicable diseases
- Discarded vaccines
Why Do You Have to Put These Things in Special Bags?
Because of the potential disease biohazardous waste contains it must be sterilized before finally being disposed of. In my
last blog
I went over what happens after biohazardous waste is picked up. The summary is it’s transported to a sanitation facility, put through an
autoclave
and then taken to a sanitary landfill where they process and safely discard it.
How Can I Have My Medical Waste Picked Up?
We got you! MedPro offers a low cost biohazard waste disposal solution that focuses specifically on worker and environmental safety, compliance, and customer happiness. If you would like to have your waste picked up, click
HERE
to contact us now!
Common Questions
- What is considered biohazard waste?
- Biohazard waste is any waste contaminated with blood, body fluids, or other potentially infectious materials that could transmit disease. OSHA's definition covers liquid or semi-liquid blood; items that would release blood if compressed or are caked with dried blood that could flake off; contaminated sharps; and pathological and microbiological wastes. Common examples include saturated gauze, contaminated PPE, suction canisters, cultures, needles, and surgical tissue.
- What's the difference between biohazard waste and medical waste?
- Biohazard waste is a subset of medical waste. Medical waste is the broad category that can include pharmaceuticals and chemicals; biohazard waste specifically refers to material that contains or may contain infectious agents. For the broader category, see our medical waste disposal guide.
- How do I know if something is biohazard waste?
- Use OSHA's squeeze test: if an item would release blood or other potentially infectious material in a liquid or semi-liquid state when compressed — or is caked with dried material that could flake off during handling — it's regulated waste. A bandage with a small dried spot generally isn't; gauze saturated with blood is. Some states define medical waste more broadly, so check your state's rules.
- How much does biohazard waste disposal cost?
- Cost depends on waste volume, pickup frequency, container size, waste type, and location; pathological and pharmaceutical waste generally cost more to treat than standard biohazard waste. MedPro customers save an average of 30% versus their previous provider — request a free quote for pricing specific to your facility.
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