5 tips to save on medical waste disposal costs in healthcare facilities
18-08-2023
When it comes to managing medical waste, healthcare facilities face a dual challenge: ensuring proper disposal to protect public health and finding ways to reduce associated costs. In Celitron’s next article, we'll provide expert insights and actionable tips to help healthcare providers navigate this delicate balance successfully.
Tip 1 to save on medical waste disposal costs: Implement waste segregation at its source
Implementing waste segregation at the source is a strategic way to optimize waste management and reduce disposal costs. By categorizing waste into different types (such as infectious waste, non-infectious waste, sharps, etc.) at the point of generation, healthcare facilities can ensure that each type of waste is treated appropriately.
Tip 2 to save on medical waste disposal costs: Explore recycling and repurposing opportunities
Incorporating recycling and repurposing initiatives into the waste management plan can lead to significant cost savings on medical waste disposal and environmental benefits. Items like plastics, glass, and certain medical equipment can be recycled or repurposed, reducing the overall waste volume.
By recycling materials that can be reused, healthcare facilities contribute to reducing the demand for raw materials and energy-intensive production processes. This not only saves money but also reflects a commitment to sustainability, aligning with the facility's values and responsibilities towards the environment.
Tip 3 to save on medical waste disposal costs: Invest in staff training and education
A well-trained workforce plays a pivotal role in efficient medical waste management. By investing in comprehensive training and education programs for staff members, healthcare facilities empower their teams to handle waste correctly, reducing errors and optimizing waste segregation.
Mistakes in waste segregation and disposal can lead to increased costs, fines, and environmental hazards. Proper training equips staff with the knowledge and skills they need to make informed decisions regarding waste management, ultimately leading to cost savings and improved operational efficiency.
Tip 4 to save on medical waste disposal costs: Embrace the benefits of steam sterilization (autoclaving)
Steam sterilization, often referred to as autoclaving, is a cutting-edge technique that healthcare facilities can adopt to handle medical waste efficiently. With this method, medical waste is subjected to high-pressure saturated steam, which eliminates harmful pathogens and renders the waste safe for disposal.
By choosing steam sterilization, healthcare facilities can benefit from a cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach to medical waste disposal. Additionally, autoclaving helps mitigate the risk of contamination and infection, safeguarding both patients and staff.
Tip 5 to save on medical waste disposal costs: Opt for medical waste shredding options
Medical waste shredding is an innovative strategy that healthcare facilities can employ to maximize space and minimize medical waste disposal costs. This method involves shredding medical waste into smaller pieces, reducing the overall volume of waste. Shredded waste takes up less space in landfills, contributing to cost savings associated with waste disposal.
Apart from its cost-saving benefits, medical waste shredding also ensures compliance with waste disposal regulations. The shredded waste is rendered unrecognizable and non-hazardous.
How Celitron’s ISS helps you save on medical waste disposal costs
Celitron’s ISS (Integrated Sterilizer and Shredder) offers an ideal onsite solution for healthcare facilities looking to save on medical waste disposal costs. This hybrid, vacuum cycle-based class B autoclave combines the advantages of the most advanced class of steam sterilizer on the market with medical waste shredding.
It is our own patented solution for treating hazardous medical waste, in line with the recommendations of the EU and the WHO.
1. Medical waste disposal cost reduction for facilities of all sizes
The ISS can help save on medical waste disposal costs for facilities of all sizes. It is available in different sizes with varying capacity chambers to accommodate different needs within the healthcare industry, including large hospitals, dialysis centers, laboratories, as well as small clinics that have less available space for the installation of new machinery.
Celitron’s ISS line contains models with 25, 150, and 560-liter capacities.
2. Less costly medical waste disposal cost compared to incineration
While there are already onsite incinerators available for medical facilities, they are a much less cost-effective waste disposal solution compared to more modern methods like steam sterilization and shredding. Both their capital and operational costs are higher compared to autoclaves.
Not to mention that with basic incinerator models, there can be a risk of releasing harmful emissions. More advanced incinerators can certainly reduce this risk via flue gas treatment, but they are even costlier, making them a much less realistic option for many healthcare facilities.
Furthermore, incinerators also require much more available space to be installed and are less user-friendly compared to fully automatic onsite autoclaves and shredders.
3. Reduce the operational costs of medical waste disposal
Celitron’s onsite medical waste disposal solution is also great for reducing the operational costs of your facility. The ISS only uses steam and electricity to process highly infectious waste such as sharps onsite, without emitting any harmful substances or unpleasant odors, thanks to a closed vessel system.
Even if the initial capital costs of more modern onsite treatment solutions can be higher compared to other autoclaves, in the long run, you can expect a steady return on your investment thanks to the advanced water and energy-saving systems of Celitron’s Integrated Sterilizer and Shredder.
Additionally, you can also reduce your environmental footprint by consuming less energy.
4. Reduce waste volume – reduce medical waste disposal costs
Celitron’s ISS can also help you save on medical waste disposal costs by reducing the volume of the waste generated at your healthcare facility.
The high-grade (316L) stainless steel vessel of the Integrated Sterilizer and Shredder is equipped with powerful shredding blades that reduce the final volume of the waste inside its chamber down to 20% of its original size.
- Clean steam is produced by the internal steam generator of the ISS, supplied by a water purification and draining system. There is no risk of harmful emissions or contaminated wastewater.
- After being treated (sterilized, shredded, drained of liquid components, dried, and reduced in volume) the medical waste is sterile and is ready for safe and easy disposal, just like regular municipal waste.
- All of this is fully automated, including closing and opening the door of the ISS’s chamber. You can treat approximately up to 150 kgs of medical waste per hour, depending on the model you choose.
5. Eliminate the need for the special storage of medical waste before disposal
Since the medical waste treated by the ISS will already be free from all potentially harmful foreign materials, disposal requires less prep work than usual. While medical staff still need to pay attention whenever handling waste that needs to be loaded into the Integrated Sterilizer and Shredder, there is no need for a separate, special storage room.
In the case of “traditional” offsite methods, medical waste disposal costs can also rise because of all the extra safety procedures that need to be taken to properly store waste in puncture-proof medical waste containers, which then need to be taken into storage, far from any populated areas.
In contrast, onsite treatment can help you forego this step, since all sharps and other hazardous waste are already shredded and sterile, and cannot cause harm through pricks and cuts.
6. Eliminate the need for a costly specialized medical waste disposal service
Just like in the case of storage, the same goes for transportation. Medical waste disposal costs can be high due to the need for specialized, licensed waste removal services that usually take the waste to a landfill to be incinerated.
Sterile waste, on the other hand, can be treated like regular municipal waste. This also eliminates the risks of the potential spills of hazardous waste into the environment during transportation or unloading.
Moreover, the reduced waste volume from the ISS translates into fewer trips for waste removal, minimizing transportation costs.
Interested in reducing the medical waste disposal costs of your healthcare facility? Do not hesitate to CONTACT CELITRON for a free quote for your new cost-effective onsite solution!