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Regulated medical waste (biohazard waste)
Also called: red bag waste, biohazard waste, infectious waste
The small share of waste that needs a red bag or special disposal.
Most office waste, including used gloves, masks, barriers and lightly soiled gauze, can go in the regular trash. Regulated medical waste is the small part (about 1% to 2% of a dental office's waste) that could release blood or saliva: blood-soaked gauze, extracted teeth, removed tissue and contaminated sharps. It goes in red or biohazard-labeled bags or containers. States set the detailed rules.
How to spot it
- Red bags or containers, or ones with a fluorescent orange or orange-red biohazard label (OSHA lets red bags stand in for the label).
What it is used for
- Use a sturdy leak-resistant biohazard bag; double-bag if the outside gets dirty or torn.
- Store and ship it through your licensed waste hauler per state rules.
Safety and care
- Never put amalgam waste or amalgam-filled teeth in a red bag.
- Wear gloves when handling filled bags.
Related
Sources: CDC. Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings, 2003. MMWR 2003;52(RR-17), OSHA. Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030, ADA. Amalgam Separators and Waste Best Management Practices