Sharps Bin Waste Disposal 💉

March 5, 2024 Alterna Medical Waste, Recycling, waste disposal, Waste Management

Energy Disrupter

Sharps Bin Waste Disposal 💉: All sorts of stress and worries occur when one disposes of sharps. That is because, when done incorrectly, it can injure or infect humans or animals. But you do not have to make it stressful; you only have to learn sharps disposal so that, as much as possible, no injuries or infections happen.

As such, we will be discussing things you should know about it in today’s blog. Read on to learn more.

>Download Now: Free PDF Business Owners Guide To Medical Waste Bin Services

A bit about Waster

Before we continue with the discussion on sharps bin waste disposal, let me share with you more information about Waster.

We here at Waster provide you with innovative solutions for your and your business’s waste management and recycling needs. Furthermore, we provide flexible, 30-day contracts instead of the typical lock-in contracts, which proves to be better.

Click on the blue button to learn more.

READ: Fish Market Waste Management 🐟

Why do you need proper sharps bin waste disposal?

Sharps disposal bins are especially important because they can safely carry sharp items which include syringes, needles, lancets, connection needles, infusion sets, and auto-injectors.

As much as possible, especially these days, we would not want to spread any unwanted microorganisms that can make a person ill.

Essentially, to avoid that, we highly recommend that you acquire a sharps bin disposal service to handle sharps waste.

Everybody will find this especially true in any medical setting that caters to patients or customers. For example, syringes with insulin used on diabetic patients that should be disposed of properly are included in many – if not all – medical settings. Additionally, this also includes needles used for vaccinations.

But this does not only involve the healthcare sector. You can also find sharps on any other types of businesses.

You can find sharps used by tattoo parlours, hair and beauty salons and animal grooming salons. Much like in medical conditions, sharps waste found in any other businesses should also be disposed of properly.

Sharps handling and disposal policy

This information is both for the customers and the handlers. There are policies recommended for the proper disposal of sharps like needles and syringes in Australia. This way, we can ensure the safety of both the customers and waste handlers, as well as the environment.

According to the Australian Government Department of Health:

Best practice

Best practice management of needles and syringes is predicated on the hazards associated with these waste products. It must be noted that the hazards exist to human health (with those at risk ranging from IDU, NSP staff, waste management staff and the wider community), generally via exposure to needles. In addition, there could be environmental hazards (eg., from the content of syringes), but this is probably quite minimal. It should also be noted that in risk management, perceived risks should be just as actively managed as identified risks.

Essentially, this means that those involved should prioritise disposing of sharps waste based on the hazard they bring. It can affect both humans and the environment (the latter less than the former). Additionally, the risks in question should also be treated like the already identified risks.

As such, make sure that – as the waste handler – to wear gloves when handling sharps waste. After handling and disposal, also make sure to wash your hands aka sanitise. But ideally, you should sanitise before, during, and after handling said waste.

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Other things to note

Those with sharps bin disposal containers should make sure that the colour yellow and the biohazard symbol stand out for easy identification. They should make sure of the yellow colour and labelled biohazard symbol. Furthermore, it should have a fill line, as stated by Davidson Washroom, to avoid overfilling.

Sharps bin waste disposal practices should also involve thinking about the number of and size of the bins, depending on the nature of business (i.e., Is the place bigger? Does it produce more sharps waste?). Ensure that you put the dangerous sharps bins away from other people – especially children – to avoid risks.

Most importantly, no manual emptying should happen. This is to ensure overall safety. You can avoid injuries and infections easily this way. And, lastly, sharps waste should never go into landfills. This happening will harm the environment. If you have read our blog regarding clinical waste disposal in 2020, we stated that clinical waste (which sharps waste falls under):

The clinical waste collected will be treated either through incineration or through an autoclave. The clinical waste incineration process – or autoclave process will see any bacterial components killed by the heat.

Partner up with Waster for your sharps bin waste collection services!

For your medical – sharps bin waste disposal – needs, look no further and partner up with Waster! We offer medical waste bin services for different kinds of businesses all throughout Australia.

Waster offers small and medium businesses in Australia a sharps bin waste disposal service. With our service, you can easily dispose of items that:

have sharp points or edges capable of cutting, piercing, or penetrating the skin (such as needles, syringes with needles or surgical instruments),
are designed for the purpose of cutting, piercing or penetrating the skin and
have the potential to cause injury or infection.