Medical waste 4028577 224108102 2008-07-07T10:13:57Z Kyle the bot 3115531 robot Adding: [[fr:Déchet médical]] [[Image:Star_of_life2.svg|right|200px|]] '''Medical waste''', also known as '''clinical waste''', normally refers to waste products that cannot be considered general waste, produced from healthcare premises, such as hospitals. Disposal of this waste is an [[environmentalism|environmental]] concern, as many medical wastes are classified as ''infectious'' or ''biohazardous'' and could potentially lead to the spread of [[infectious disease]]. Examples of infectious waste include [[blood]], potentially contaminated "[[sharps waste|sharps]]" such as needles and [[scalpel]]s, and identifiable body parts. Infectious waste is often [[incineration|incinerated]], and is usually [[Sterilization (microbiology)|sterilized]] if it is to be placed in a [[landfill]]. Additionally, medical premises produce a variety of waste hazardous [[chemical]]s, including [[radioactive]] materials. While such wastes are normally not infectious, they may be classified as [[hazardous waste]]s, and require proper disposal. In Europe, wastes are defined by their European Waste Catalogue (EWC) Codes. EWC Codes are 6 digits long, with the first two digits defining the over-arching category of waste, the next two defining the sub-category, and the last two defining the precise waste stream. Clinical waste comes under the "18" codes, for example: "18 01 01" corresponds to healthcare waste (18), from humans (01), that is sharp and not infectious (01). In the UK, clinical waste and the way it is to be handled is closely regulated <ref>http://www.medical.initial.co.uk/regulations/index.php</ref>. Applicable legislation <ref>[http://www.netregs.gov.uk/netregs/legislation/287972/?lang=_e NetRegs - Current legislation lists<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> includes the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (Part II), Waste Management Licencing Regulations 1994, and the Hazardous Waste Regulations (England & Wales) 2005, as well as the Special Waste Regulations in Scotland. == See also == *[[List of solid waste treatment technologies]] *[[List of topics dealing with environmental issues]] *[[Medical Waste Tracking Act]] of 1988 (MWTA) (in the US) *[[Toxic waste]] *[[Waste management]] == External links == * [http://www.indmedica.com/journals.php?journalid=11&issueid=98&articleid=1324&action=article www.indmedica.com/journals] * [http://dmoz.org/Business/Energy_and_Environment/Waste_Management/Biohazardous_Materials/Medical_Waste/ DMOZ Medical Waste Category] ==References== <references/> [[Category:Medical ethics]] [[Category:Waste]] {{medical-stub}} {{waste-stub}} [[fr:Déchet médical]] [[ja:医療廃棄物]] [[tr:Tıbbi atık]]