Environmental Solutions

Medical Waste

Biomedical waste (BMW) consists of solids, liquids, sharps and laboratory waste that are potentially infectious or dangerous and are considered biowaste. It must be properly managed to protect the general public, specifically healthcare and sanitation workers who are regularly exposed to biomedical waste as an occupational hazard.

For Bridges Environmental the disposal of medical waste is of high environmental concern, as many medical wastes are classified as infectious or biohazardous and could potentially lead to the spread of infectious disease.

Medical waste, otherwise known as clinical waste, normally refers to waste products that cannot be considered general waste, produced from healthcare premises such as hospitals, clinics, doctors’ offices, veterinary hospitals and labs.

Examples of infectious waste include blood, potentially contaminated “sharps” such as needles and scalpels, and identifiable body parts. Sharps include used needles, lancets and other devices capable of penetrating skin.

Sterilisation

Our preferred methods of sterilisation are incineration and autoclave. The autoclave uses steam and pressure to sterilise the waste.

Universal precautions refer to the practice in medicine of avoiding contact with patients’ bodily fluids by means of wearing nonporous articles such as medical gloves, goggles and face shields. Bridges Environmental also applies these precautionary measures in the process of collection and treatment.

On top of that, Bridges Environmental offers to plan, supply and manage mobile incineration facilities for our clients.