How do you dispose of laboratory waste? Various types of waste that laboratories produce depend on the type of laboratory and the equipment the labs use. At Medpro Disposal, we serve two types of laboratories: medical research laboratories and scientific research laboratories, and both types produce mostly biohazardous and sharps waste.
In This Article
Examples of Biohazardous Waste from Laboratories
- Solid waste (contaminated non-sharp materials)
- Liquid waste (blood and bodily fluids)
- Human Pathological waste
- Animal Waste
- Microbiological Waste
Examples of Sharps Wastes from Laboratories
- Needles, Syringes, Scalpels
- Infusion Sets, Connection Needles
- Insulin and Epi-Pens
What Waste is Commonly Produced
Medical Research and Scientific Research Laboratories mainly dispose of sharps, infectious Waste, biohazardous Waste, and microbiological Waste.
Sharps are a kind of waste that can pierce the skin, such as needles, syringes, and scalpels that are used in medical testing.
The infectious waste produced in medical laboratories includes any used and potentially infectious materials such as swabs, tissues, and lab equipment.
Microbiological waste includes waste containing infectious agents, such as devices used to transfer one agent to another and disposable culture dishes.
Lastly, medical research laboratories produce a ton of biohazardous waste which is classified into four categories: solid waste, Liquid waste, sharps waste, and pathological waste.
Pathological waste includes both animal and human organs and body parts that have been used in testing. These types of waste mainly consist of contaminated materials used, human excretion and bodily fluids waste, and sharps.
Scientific Research Laboratories also produce animal waste.
Medical Waste Disposal
The correct and most effective way to dispose of laboratory waste is to hire a medical waste disposal company, such as MedPro, to provide containers for each type of waste.
MedPro would provide you with a sharp's container and biohazardous waste bags and or containers that includes the infectious and biohazardous waste materials. It is unsafe and costly to try to dispose of this waste on your own as it puts your safety at risk, and many times it will be disposed of incorrectly.
Learn more about how Medpro Disposal could help **your laboratory stay compliant with waste disposal and management.**Call us today or **book a 5-10 minutes appointment** with a MedPro Disposal Customer Advocate.
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Common Questions
- 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.
- Is medical waste disposal legally required?
- Yes. Any facility generating regulated medical waste must comply with OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, applicable EPA/DOT rules, and their state's specific medical waste regulations, which vary by state.
- 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.
- Can I dispose of medical waste myself?
- In nearly every state, regulated medical waste can't go in normal trash. It must be treated by a licensed facility (autoclave or incineration) and transported by a permitted hauler. Very low-volume generators may qualify for mail-back containers instead of route pickup.
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