In an era of unprecedented healthcare advancements, a concerning byproduct has emerged – a staggering amount of medical waste. From big city hospitals to rural clinics, facilities across the globe are grappling with the complexities of managing this ever-growing stream of potentially hazardous materials. The numbers are staggering. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 85% of the total amount of waste generated by healthcare activities is considered non-hazardous. However, the remaining 15% is classified as hazardous material that may be infectious, toxic, or radioactive. Im ..read more

Keep your patients coming back with a waste disposal management plan from MedSharps Whether you work at a hospital, medical clinic or doctor’s office, patients want to know that they’ll be safe when they come in for an appointment. According to the CDC, in 2020, 83% of American adults went to the doctor or some other type of healthcare professional. The percentage of children making those visits was even higher at 94%. This puts the total number of visits to hospitals, medical clinics or doctor’s offices, including COVID-related visits, at 860.4 million. That’s a lot of people potentially comi ..read more

On October 5th, 2022, MedSharps was formally recognized by CHWMEG for successfully completing its Facility Review Program (FRP). CHWMEG is a trade association of manufacturing and industrial organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies that have created initiatives to reduce, recycle or reuse the waste associated with their operations. These initiatives are part of a global effort to minimize negative impacts on our environment. MedSharps now joins Fortune 500 companies in CHWMEG’s member organization, which includes tech giants Apple, Google, and energy sector companies li ..read more

In October 2021, Fortune 500 Company DuPont made headlines when the Justice Department, the EPA, and the state of Texas fined the chemical manufacturer $3.1 million for a laundry list of violations from their chemical manufacturing plant in Orange, Texas. These infractions included improper disposal of hazardous waste causing water and air pollution. More specifically, the violations included the improper use of chemicals, improper disposal of wastewater and improper disposal of waste without a permit. For a global company like DuPont, a three-million-dollar fine can easily be paid and they ca ..read more

With vaccinations increasing and implementation of workplace testing, there could be an increase in OSHA inspections to ensure companies are disposing of medical waste properly. Whether you have been inspected before or not, a sudden inspection can be confusing and worrisome if you aren’t fully prepared. If an OSHA Inspector showed up at your company doors today, how would your company fare? Do you have all your bases covered or could you potentially be facing fines and penalties? How Does an OSHA Inspections Work? OSHA inspections have three parts… 1. The Opening Conference – The OSHA Inspect ..read more

3 Times Grey’s Anatomy Got It Wrong   For years, viewers loved to watch the drama play out at Seattle Grace Hospital. As fun as it is to follow the daily trials and tribulations of the doctors and nurses on Grey’s, was it very realistic? 1. SHARPS BIN Look how happy Meredith is. It’s great that there’s a sharps container in the exam room and it’s definitely out of the reach of small children; however, there are a couple of serious issues with this placement. The container is directly over the rubber glove dispenser and that could pose a problem if the container leaks. It’s also ..read more

Have you ever wondered what happens to your pharmaceutical drugs once they’re discarded? It is common for both individuals and healthcare providers to find themselves with unused/expired prescription drugs and questioning the proper way to dispose of them. While medical facilities are highly regulated and have strict disposal protocols to follow, at-home individuals might unknowingly consider flushing their unused medications down the toilet or throwing them into the trash. Both of these methods of disposal are improper and dangerous. When medications are improperly disposed of, they often ina ..read more

The multi-step process of medical waste disposal, transport and treatment is a complex process. Few companies nationwide can say they handle medical waste from start to finish…however at MedSharps, we can say this with pride. While the collection of medical waste comes from a variety of facilities, including hospitals, doctor’s offices, veterinarian clinics, and many other types of companies, there are strict compliance regulations that apply to all medical waste generators that must be adhered to by both the facility and the transport and treating provider.   Keep reading below as we bre ..read more

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. has used over 390 million tests. Plus, an average of 167 million COVID-19 vaccinations. But what happens to the medical waste and how is it safely disposed of?  The disposal of hazardous waste goes through a medical waste sterilizer before it goes to the landfill. An autoclave for waste disposal destroys bacteria through pressurized steam. Learn more about autoclaving biological waste in the medical industry here. What Is an Autoclave for Waste Disposal?  An autoclave i ..read more