Minimizing Red Bag Waste Marcy Yeshnowski Tetra Tech EM Inc. 402 4746228

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Minimizing Red Bag WasteMarcy YeshnowskiTetra
Tech EM Inc.[phone]
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Medical Waste

• Red Bag Whats the Problem?
• Defining Red Bag Waste
• 3 P2 Strategies for Safely Reducing Red Bag Waste

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Red Bag WasteQuick Facts
Estimated hospital waste generated in California,
by type
Solid Waste 143,520 tons/year 85 RMW 25,330
tons/year 15 Total 168,840 tons/year
Medical Waste Mountain in California,
Environmental Working Group and Healthcare
Without Harm
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Red Bag WasteQuick Facts
Metropolitan areas with most hospital waste
generated in California, based on number of beds

• Los Angeles Long Beach 54,800 tons/yr
• Riverside San Bernardino 14,610 tons/yr
• San Diego 13,130 tons/yr
• San Francisco 12,970 tons/yr
• Orange County 9,880 tons/yr

Medical Waste Mountain in California,
Environmental Working Group and Healthcare
Without Harm
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Red Bag WasteQuick Facts
States with the most hospital waste generated,
based on number of beds

• New York 201,670 tons/yr
• California 168,840 tons/yr
• Pennsylvania 115,090 tons/yr
• Texas 112,520 tons/yr
• Florida 104,080 tons/yr

Medical Waste Mountain in California,
Environmental Working Group and Healthcare
Without Harm
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Red Bag WastePIMC Case Study
Solid Waste Disposal Fee 57/ton Red Bag Waste
Disposal Fee 450 per ton (0.22 per pound)
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Medical Waste What are we talking about?

SHARPS
BIOHAZARDOUSWASTE
http//www.dhs.ca.gov/medicalwaste/
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Sharps

• Sharps
• Syringes, needles, blades, scalpels, lancets,
  broken glass and any other contaminated sharp
  object.

http//www.dhs.ca.gov/medicalwaste/
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Biohazardous Waste What it is

• Lab Waste
• Specimens or cultures, stocks of infectious
  agents, live and attenuated vaccines, and culture
  mediums.
• Human Surgery Specimens
• Human or animal parts or tissues removed
  surgically or by autopsy.
• Contaminated Animals
• Animal carcasses, body parts and bedding
  contaminated with diseases that can be spread to
  humans.

http//www.dhs.ca.gov/medicalwaste/
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Biohazardous Waste What it is

• Blood and Body Fluids
• Which are dripping or capable of being poured or
  spilled and items visibly soiled with blood.
• Waste from patients with infectious diseases
  isolated by Infection Control
• These patients should be isolated and identified
  as needing special waste disposal

http//www.dhs.ca.gov/medicalwaste/
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Biohazardous Waste What it is

• Trace Chemotherapy Wastes
• Which are contaminated through contact with or
  having previously contained chemotherapy agents,
  such as gloves, disposable gowns, or IV bags.
• Pharmaceuticals
• Waste that is hazardous only because it is
  comprised of pharmaceuticals.

http//www.dhs.ca.gov/medicalwaste/
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So what goes in the Red Bag?

SHARPS
BIOHAZARDOUSWASTE
?
?
So what goes in the red bag?
http//www.dhs.ca.gov/medicalwaste/
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So what goes in the Red Bag?

• Most biohazardous waste streams DO NOT go in red
  bag
• Items that do are generally derived from this
  category
• Blood and body fluid contaminated items that are
  dripping or capable of being poured or spilled
  and items visibly soiled with blood.

http//www.dhs.ca.gov/medicalwaste/
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and does not!
Unless visibly soiled with blood these items do
not belong in red bag trash

• Bed Pans
• Empty specimen containers
• Dressings and gauze
• Diapers/Incontinence Pads
• Splints
• Masks, gowns, gloves
• Tapes
• Cotton
• Suction tubing

• Vent tubing
• Emesis basins
• Urinals
• Paper towels
• IV bags
• Casts and splints
• Packaging materials
• Foley bags and catheters
• Alcohol preps

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Red Bag Waste Reduction Strategies

• Location, location, location!
• Employee training
• Source reduction opportunity Bio-Elite Bags

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Red Bag Waste Reduction Strategy 1Location,
Location, Location!
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Red Bag Waste Reduction Strategy 1Location,
Location, Location!

• Container location is the most important factor
  in properly segregating waste
• Consider only having red bags near nurses
  stations
• DO NOT place in areas of high solid waste
  generation
• What have your facilities done?

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Red Bag Waste Reduction Strategy 2Training and
Education
Training is imperative to ensure proper
segregation of medical waste.
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Red Bag Waste Reduction Strategy 2Training
What Can You Do?

• Waste assessments
• Outreach materials
• Formal training programs

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Red Bag Waste Reduction Strategy 2Training
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Red Bag Waste Reduction Strategy 2Training
SAMPLE QUIZ
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Where to throw?IV Bags

• IV bags are not considered red bag wastes

Red Bag Waste Quiz
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Where to throw?Diapers and Incontinence Pads

• Items containing non-infectious body fluids
  generally not considered red bag waste

Red Bag Waste Quiz
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Where to throw?Cups, Plates, and Eating Utensils

• Used food service items including cups, plates,
  and utensils are not considered red bag wastes

Red Bag Waste Quiz
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Where to throw?Bandages, Gauze, and Wrap

• Soiled vs Tainted
• Possibility of reconstitution

Red Bag Waste Quiz
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Where to throw?Needles, Syringes, Lancets, and
Scalpels
Red Bag Waste Quiz
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Where to throw?Gloves, Masks, and Gowns

• Used gloves, masks, and gowns that are not blood
  soaked are not considered red bag waste

Red Bag Waste Quiz
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Where to throw?Hand Towels and Face Tissue

• Used paper towels and tissue are not considered
  red bag waste

Red Bag Waste Quiz
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Where to throw?Blood and Body Fluids

• Blood containing items capable of being poured or
  spilled and other items visibly soiled with blood
  are considered red bag wastes

Red Bag Waste Quiz
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Red Bag Waste Reduction Tip 3Source Reduction
Opportunity

• Bio-Elite red bags
• Are stronger
• Surpasses the ASTM 165 gram dropped dart test at
  180 grams
• Uses a star seal for leak protection
• Weigh 32 less than conventional LDPE bags
• Made with 30 recycled plastic
• Cost less

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Red Bag Waste Reduction Tip 3Source Reduction
Opportunity
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Red Bag Waste Reduction Tip 3Source Reduction
Opportunity
Before
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Why Are Hospitals Rethinking Medical Waste
Management?

• Rising costs of medical waste incineration
• Poor waste segregation wasted money
• Incinerators emit dioxins and mercury
• Increased availability of alternatives

For more information, visit dioxin.abag.ca.gov/