Medical waste

Medical waste is released during medical and medical treatments. Hospitals, GP practices and healthcare institutions in particular have to deal with medical waste. The government imposes strict requirements on the storage, collection, removal and processing of this type of waste. This is due to hygiene and the high risk of infection.

As a healthcare provider, you are therefore obliged to have your medical waste disposed of responsibly by a recognised waste processing company. Chemical Waste Netherlands is happy to assist you.

What is considered medical waste?

Medical waste includes all waste materials that are released during medical treatments. These can be organic substances, such as blood and human tissue, but also medical devices and equipment. Think of medicines, bandages, scalpels, infusions, injection needles, probes and measuring instruments.

Medical waste flows do not only occur in a hospital, but also, for example, in a nursing home, general practitioner, dentist, first aid post, veterinarian and in palliative care.

Hazardous medical waste

Hazardous medical waste (HMW) is waste from the healthcare sector that can pose a risk to people and the environment. This includes contaminated material such as used needles, blood-soiled bandages and chemical waste. RMA must be collected separately and processed according to strict regulations to prevent infections and environmental damage. Healthcare institutions and individuals must separate this waste correctly and dispose of it at authorized collection points.

Medical waste container

A medical waste container must leakproof, sealable and coded for different types of waste. This prevents contamination and injuries, especially with RMA and sharp objects such as needles and scalpels. The most commonly used waste containers are the septobox or needle box. Read more about a rent chemical waste container.

Medical waste Disposal Service

Dispose of medical waste responsibly and safely

As a healthcare provider, you can safely and responsibly hand in or have your medical waste collected at Chemisch Afval Nederland. We are a certified specialist in the field of collecting hazardous waste streams, including in the healthcare sector. View an extensive medical waste collection list below.

Medical waste list

Below you will find a list of medical waste materials, divided into 7 categories.

1. Infectious and biohazardous waste

Blood-stained bandages and gauze pads
Used gloves and face masks
Used cotton swabs and alcohol wipes
Body fluids (blood, urine, pus)
Contaminated disposable clothing and aprons
Contaminated laboratory samples

2. Sharp waste

Injection needles
Blood lancets
Infusion needles and catheters
Scalpel blades
Surgical sutures with needle
Broken glass ampoules

3. Pharmaceutical waste

Expired or unused medications
Medicine packaging with residues
Antibiotics and cytostatics (chemotherapy)
Hormone patches and medicated creams
Narcotics (e.g. morphine patches)

4. Anatomical waste

Surgically removed tissue and organs
Placentas and other birth waste
Amputations (e.g. toes, fingers)
Dead body remains in pathological examination

5. Chemical and hazardous waste

Mercury from old thermometers
Formaldehyde (preservative)
X-rays and fixer/developer fluids
Ethanol and other disinfectants
Laboratory chemicals

6. Radioactive (medical) waste

Used radioactive contrast agents
Nuclear medicine waste (e.g. iodine-131)
Radioactively contaminated laboratory equipment

7. Other

- Used IV bags and tubing
- Broken pacemakers and implants
- Artificial joints and prostheses
- Used contact lenses and hearing aids

Do you have any questions about any of the medical waste types? Please feel free to contact us contact us.

Medical waste processing in healthcare

We provide the collection and processing of medical waste from healthcare. This is done according to strict guidelines, as described in the National Waste Management Plan 3 (LAP3), sector plan 19Depending on the type of waste, it is sterilized, incinerated, recycled or chemically treated.

Correct collection using approved medical waste containers such as needle boxes, septo boxes and wiva barrels is essential to prevent health and environmental risks.

Medical waste service for healthcare sector

Below you will find a list of various healthcare institutions that we can assist with the disposal of their medical waste.

Healthcare institutions

Hospitals
General practitioners' practices
Dental practices
Veterinarians
Outpatient clinics
Emergency Department (ED)
Primary health care centers
Rehabilitation centers
Palliative care institutions
Hospices
Physiotherapy practices (when using medical devices)
Midwifery practices

Emergency aid and public health

First aid posts
Ambulance services
Fire brigade (for medical procedures)
Defense (military medical posts)
Police (for medical procedures such as drug testing or injury care)

Long-term care and well-being

Nursing homes
Nursing homes
Home care organizations
Caregivers (during medical procedures)
Disabled care institutions
Daycare centers (for drug residues, contaminated material)
Mental health care institutions

Medical specialist sectors

Laboratories (clinical, medical and pharmaceutical)
Pharmacies (for discarded medicines and needles)
Eye clinics
Skin clinics and dermatology practices
Plastic surgery clinics
ENT practices (ear, nose and throat specialists)

Veterinary care and research

Animal clinics
Animal shelters (for medical treatments)
Zoos (for veterinary care)
Agricultural companies with veterinary services
University veterinary faculties

Private medical waste

If you want to dispose of medical waste privately, you may not always just do this with the residual waste. Take the following regulations and guidelines into account:

Hand in used injection needles, insulin pens, lancets and sharp medical objects at the pharmacy or municipality in a special needle container. You can also sometimes go to the GP or district nurse.
You can return old medicines to the pharmacy. Also, surplus or expired medicines may not be disposed of in the residual waste or down the toilet. Pharmacies collect and process these safely.
Some municipalities have special collection points for medicines, for example KGA boxes at recycling centres or waste stations.
Uncontaminated dressings, diapers and incontinence products may be disposed of with normal residual waste.
Old or used medicine patches, hormone patches, cytostatic waste, chemotherapy waste and other high-risk medication must be handed in separately at the pharmacy or recycling centre.
Small amounts of (connection with) blood or body fluids may be disposed of with residual waste. Consult your GP or GGD for large amounts or contaminated material.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is medical waste?

Medical waste is waste that is generated during medical procedures and that can pose a risk to health or the environment. This includes used needles, contaminated dressings, surplus medicines and chemical waste from healthcare institutions and private care. It must be collected and processed according to strict guidelines.

What to do with medical waste?

Medical waste must be carefully separated and placed in special containers or sealed bags. Depending on the type of waste, such as needles, bandages or medicines, it must be disposed of properly. It is important to follow guidelines to prevent contamination and environmental damage.

Where do you dispose of medical waste?

Medical waste can be delivered to pharmacies, recycling centers, GP practices or specialized waste processing companies. Needles and sharp objects must be delivered in a needle container. Medicine residues and chemical waste can be delivered to the pharmacy or recycling center for safe processing.

Have your medical waste collected

Do you want to have your medical waste collected as a healthcare provider? Feel free to contact us to discuss the possibilities.