Date of Last Review 3/16/10
Date of Last Review 10/18/10
Date of Last Review 10/31/11
SME: Infection Control Manager
This topic provides the information needed for proper solid waste disposal.
This table lists the types of solid waste:
Waste |
Description | ||||
Hazardous |
Any solid waste that is contaminated. Examples:
| ||||
Non-hazardous |
Any solid waste that is not hazardous. |
Follow these guidelines for solid waste disposal:
 | Housekeeping cannot take solid waste items from the Nursing Unit unless you have properly contained the waste. |
| Housekeeping transports all waste in approved carts. |
This table describes the hazardous solid waste disposal process:
Stage |
Description |
1 |
Unit personnel place red plastic isolation bags in the designated trash receptacle in the treatment room. |
2 |
Unit personnel place hazardous waste in red plastic isolation bag inside the container. |
3 |
Housekeeping seals the red plastic isolation bag each day or more often if necessary. |
4 |
Housekeeping empties the container into another red bag. |
5 |
Housekeeping places the bags in approved corrugated boxes marked Bio-Hazardous Waste. |
This table describes the non-hazardous solid waste disposal process:
Stage |
Description | ||||
1 |
Housekeeping staff place trash can liners only where patients are supervised at all times. | ||||
2 |
Unit personnel place non-hazardous waste into wastepaper baskets and trash cans within the unit. | ||||
3 |
Unit personnel empty non-hazardous wastepaper baskets and trash cans into white plastic bags as necessary. | ||||
4 |
Housekeeping seals the white bags and removes them from the unit once each shift or more often if necessary. | ||||
5 |
Housekeeping places the white bags in the covered trash cart. | ||||
6 |
Housekeeping staff clean trash cans and wastepaper baskets with approved disinfectant solution when:
|
The Joint Commission : Surveillance, Prevention, and Control of Infection
If you have questions regarding the content of this site please contact the
Policy and Procedure Committee. If you
experience any technical problems please contact the MIS Department.
