Right now, the novel Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19 is spreading throughout the world. Ensuring the safe and proper handling of medical, infectious, and hazardous waste is more important than ever. By making sure that we all handle waste safely, we can promote a safer environment for everyone and stop the spread.  Here are some of the regulations for safe handling of infectious waste during these intense times.

Proper Items to Dispose of in red bag:

The regulations and methods for handling infectious medical waste are more important than ever as we operate during the global pandemic created by the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. Regulated Medical Waste is also known as “Red bag waste” and is handled in red bags. Some of the items that are disposed of in red bags include:

• Contaminated Gloves

• Contaminated Bandages/Gauze

• Blood Contaminated items

• Absorbed Blood & Bodily Fluids (no loose fluids)

• Plastic Tubing

• Locked Disposable, Puncture-Proof Sharps Containers

• Contaminated dressings and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

• Cultures or Stocks

• Trace Chemotherapy Waste

• Pathological Waste – Special Handling & Labelling – Pathological Waste must be clearly labelled as such

How COVID-19 medical waste is handled

OSHA, CDC, and World Health Organization state that waste from COVID-19 patients should be handled as standard regulated medical waste (RMW). Routine procedures for handling COVID-19 medical waste apply. Specimens from suspect COVID-19 cases are Category B and must be packaged and transported as UN 3373 when sent offsite.

In collaboration with the NWRA, we have assembled extra precautionary measures to help protect you, your staff, and your patients against COVID-19, please take a look at our precautionary guide here.  Additionally, learn more here about the extra steps we’re taking within our operations to keep our team members, equipment, office space, and fleet safe.

For more information, contact BWS Customer Care at (410) 437-6590 or customercare@bwaste.com.