What are the risks of choosing the cheapest medical waste disposal company?
One of the factors to consider when choosing a medical waste disposal company is how much it will cost you. Although it seems more practical and cost-effective to use a smaller or local waste disposal company, there are a lot of risks to consider because there is a reason why they are cheaper.
In the long run, it is more cost-effective and practical to choose[a full-service medical waste disposal company](/services/) to avoid the mistakes a local company would make.
Dealing with Multiple Waste Disposal Companies is a Risky Move
One of the risks of choosing the cheapest medical waste disposal company is working with multiple companies to identify, package, and dispose of the waste. One of the reasons that full-service waste disposal companies are better is that your company will only have to deal with the one company that will provide all those services and more.
Ultimately, choosing to work with a full-service waste disposal company versus the cheapest local one saves you time and avoids the stress of dealing with ineffective customer services from multiple companies.
There is an Increased Risk of Potential Legal Issues
You indeed get what you pay for, and local businesses will cost your business more as they will continue adding extra fees that weren't mentioned in the beginning. Additionally, local companies are likelier to not abide by current waste disposal regulations and not be adequately insured as a full-service company would be.
Finally, regardless of the waste disposal company, you are still liable for the waste you are disposing of, which means if the company mishandles the destruction or incorrectly disposes of the waste, your company could end up paying hefty fines and or suffer legal consequences as a result.
The costs of improper medical waste disposal range from $5,000 to $70,000, depending on the circumstance and services being provided.
Please Don't Do It Yourself
Several risks come along with disposing of your medical waste yourself. These risks include safety risks, more costs, ineffective time management, and a lack of proper waste disposal tools.
The most considerable risk would be harming yourself when disposing of your waste, specifically sharps such as contaminated needles, syringes, and glass that could result in fatal diseases or infections.
If your company is disposing of waste themselves, it will be more costly than if you were to hire a professional medical waste disposal company. Disposing of waste requires time, labor, and tools, and all of these will cost your company money and less time spent on improving the company's services or products.
Disposing medical waste by yourself is the least effective way of disposing of your waste and will not only cost you more but put you and your workers at risk for potential health risks.
Takeaway
It is easy to want to choose the cheapest medical waste disposal company; however, it is not practical, and you indeed get what you pay for. However, that does not mean your company spends much money working with a waste disposal company.
Here at MedPro, we offer what our competitors can't by providing affordable waste disposal services while having quality service and personalized relationships with all our customers.
Learn more about how [Medpro Disposal](/) could help your practice stay compliant with waste disposal and management regulations. Call us today or **book a 5-10 minutes appointment** with a MedPro Disposal Customer Advocate.
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Special credits to:
https://mcfenvironmental.com/advantages-of-using-a-full-service-waste-management-company/
https://www.ntrs.com.au/blog/professional-waste-removal/
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.
- 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.
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