Medical waste is all infectious or potentially infectious material produced in a medical facility. Everyone has various types of medical waste that are produced, which you can’t just throw away in the regular trash. There’s a process for proper disposal, which includes segregating the waste into their assigned containers, bags, and bins. At MedPro Disposal, we created a quick guide to help you distinguish the different types of medical waste containers.
Red Bag Waste – What Biohazard Materials Go Inside?
Red bag waste includes any waste that is considered biohazardous. This includes discarded items with blood or bodily fluids, plastic surgical tools, and cytotoxic material. Contain any sharps in a closed and locked sharps container before placing them in a red bag. Make sure to seal the red bag and wear personal protective equipment (gloves, apron, face mask, and eye protection) when handling, changing or transporting red bags.
Sharps Containers – Which Tools Need a Dedicated Container?
Needles, syringes, and any other tools that can puncture skin are categorized as sharps. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities use needles to administer drugs or draw blood from patients. We have containers designed and vary based on the size and shape of your sharps. All your sharps need to be placed in these containers. Otherwise, OSHA will be contacting you on how you are safely disposing of your sharps.
Yellow Bins in Hospitals – What Is Yellow Bin Waste?
What Items Go in a Yellow Bin?
Syringes used for chemotherapy that contain less than 3% of the original drug volume
Empty vials and ampules from chemo medications Fully administered IV bags from chemotherapy treatments
Tubing that has only trace amounts of chemo drug remaining
Gloves and PPE that were used with RCRA-empty chemo agents
Yellow and black bins are used for chemotherapy waste. Yellow bins are for waste that is considered “RCRA empty,” where the waste is less than 3% of its original volume. This includes syringes, vials, and IV bags.
Black Bins in Hospitals – What Is Black Bin Waste?
What Goes in a Black Medical Waste Bin?
In hospitals, black bins are used for RCRA-hazardous waste. This includes:
Partially used chemotherapy drugs and equipment (any container with > 3% of the original drug volume)
P-listed pharmaceuticals (e.g., warfarin, arsenic trioxide) and their packaging
PPE that is contaminated with non-RCRA-empty chemo agents
Cleaning materials from chemotherapy preparation areas
Any chemical waste that is toxic, ignitable, corrosive, or reactive
What does NOT belong in a black bin?
RCRA-empty chemo items (those go in yellow bins)
Standard biohazard waste (red bags)
General pharmaceutical waste that is not classified as hazardous (blue bins)
Black bins are for waste that is not considered “RCRA empty.” Partially used chemotherapy equipment, PPE, and cleaning materials should be placed in this bin. It’s important you separate your chemotherapy waste into the appropriate bins to avoid improper disposal and penalties.
Blue Bins – What Hazardous Pharmaceutical Waste Belongs Here?
Hazardous pharmaceutical waste is collected in blue bins. Unused or expired medications, powder, and nicotine may be considered hazardous and need to be separated. Other drugs that are dangerous to humans if used incorrectly are also disposed of in the blue bin.
It’s important you properly separate your medical waste into their appropriate containers. Each type requires different treatment methods. Speak with your medical waste provider to make sure you’re handing your waste in the right ways to reduce the risks of mishandling and penalties.
Medical Waste Bin Color-Code Quick Reference Table
Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Waste Bins
Q: What are black bins in the hospital used for?
A: Black bins are for RCRA-hazardous waste such as partially used chemotherapy drugs, P-listed pharmaceuticals, contaminated PPE, and hazardous chemicals that require special incineration.
Q: What goes in a black medical waste bin?
A: Partially used chemo drugs (> 3% volume), P-listed meds, contaminated PPE, and toxic chemicals. Items that are RCRA-empty belong in yellow bins, not black.
Q: What are the color codes for hospital bins?
A: Red = biohazard, Yellow = RCRA-empty chemo, Black = RCRA-hazardous chemo & pharmaceuticals, Blue = hazardous pharmaceuticals, Sharps = needles and puncture-risk items.
Q: What items go in a yellow bin?
A: Empty chemo syringes, vials, IV bags, tubing with < 3% drug residue, and PPE used with RCRA-empty chemo agents.
