Anatomical waste management & disposal

A waste stream most commonly found with our surgical practice customers, ‘anatomical’ is the term used to categorise any items of tissue waste associated with medical procedures.

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A hospital worker holding a bag of anatomical waste in a red bag.

What is Anatomical waste

A healthcare waste stream most commonly found with our surgical practice customers, commonly from sharps, ‘anatomical’ is the term used to categorise any items of tissue waste associated with medical waste procedures. Using a red bin lid, the red anatomical waste stream containers are used to collect and segregate both human and animal body parts, organs, or blood preserves arriving from surgical procedures.

Anatomical is segregated into infectious waste (hazardous) and non-infectious waste (non-hazardous) items and always requires incinerating. Reconomy’s service is usually carried out through bins that allow a customer to segregate the waste for efficient disposal treatment.

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Healthcare facilities, hospitals, laboratories, and research institutions are responsible for the proper disposal of anatomical waste. They must adhere to local regulations and guidelines to ensure the waste is managed safely and in an environmentally sound manner. Reconomy can ease the stress of handling clinical waste such as anatomical waste, please get in touch for a quote.

Anatomical waste is typically disposed of in red or yellow bags, which are color-coded to indicate the type of waste and ensure it is handled and disposed of properly. The specific color may vary depending on local regulations.

Reconomy work with industry experts for handling anatomical waste across the UK, so rest assured your anatomical waste disposal will be cost-effective and fully-compliant.

Anatomical waste arrives from items such as surgical tissues, organs, limbs, blood, bodily fluids, and other biological materials generated during medical treatments, surgeries, or research activities. We commonly find this healthcare waste and medical waste type from our partners in hospitals and care homes.

Commonly handled through storage in a bin, medical waste and healthcare waste requires a specific service to reduce the risk of contamination. This waste stream is usually generated through the use of sharps in different hospital treatment.

Regulations for handling anatomical waste vary by country and region, but generally include guidelines on proper segregation, packaging, labeling, transportation, and disposal. Healthcare facilities and laboratories are required to follow these regulations to ensure the safe management of anatomical waste and protect public health.

Anatomical waste is typically disposed of through incineration, which involves burning the waste at high temperatures to reduce it to ash. This process helps to prevent the spread of pathogens and reduces the waste’s volume. In some cases, anatomical waste may also be disposed of using chemical treatment, autoclaving, or burial in a designated site.

You must ensure the proper disposal service of your healthcare business’s anatomical waste, it is crucial to preventing the spread of infections, protecting public health and safety, and complying with regulations to minimise environmental impact.

Reconomy offers a service to ensure your healthcare business’s anatomical waste is handled in appropriate storage, collected and disposed of compliantly.

Anatomical waste needs to be securely contained in a leak-proof, puncture-resistant, and properly labelled container. Reconomy also recommends it is stored in designated areas with restricted access and appropriate ventilation.

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