Facts & Best Practices for Veterinary Waste

Veterinary clinics and pet hospitals are faced with many of the same regulations as medical practices when it comes to properly disposing of waste materials. As the owner of your practice, or the manager responsible for handling waste disposal, understanding and abiding by all the state and federal regulations for waste disposal is critical to your success, as well as to ensuring the safety of your staff, your animal patients and their families. Here’s a quick guide to some best practices for proper disposal:

The facts: Different types of veterinary waste materials

Sharps waste: This includes any syringes, needles, suture needles, scalpels and any other items used for treating patients

Hazardous waste: This includes medication and chemicals used for treating animals, chemo waste and any other pharmaceutical related items

Animal waste:  Included in this category are any organs and body parts, carcasses and any other items that came in contact with or have been exposed to bodily fluids, blood, etc.

Best practices for disposal of veterinary waste

Although it may seem simple enough, to properly dispose of your veterinary waste, you must follow regulations to ensure compliance. Maintaining a safe and transparent system will ensure that you don’t incur any fines or endanger people and animals.

• Make sure you have the proper containers: waste disposal containers should be
  leak- proof, spill-proof, puncture-resistant and reusable. They also must be the right container for the type of waste you’re discarding.
• Keep a log book of all waste disposal and destruction. This is a key step to protect your practice from any issues of compliance and will provide regulators with the information they require. State and federal requirements may vary, so be sure to check on what your state’s veterinary waste rules are. A manifest book that shows the entire cycle of your waste, from beginning to destruction is recommended.
• Work with a certified and insured provider to transport your waste. Any veterinary waste over a certain weight requires the proper permit and licensing. Your provider should have all the credentials necessary to transport and dispose of your materials.
• Make sure the staff and all your vet techs are properly trained on how to handle waste materials and safely dispose of each type.

When it comes to waste materials from your veterinary clinic, be sure you’re aware of and following all regulations and best practices—this will protect you from any legal implications or fines for improper disposal. Make safety a priority by having the right containers and working with your team to put hazardous materials where they belong.

For all your medical waste disposal needs, turn to us at All Points Medical Waste. Our team is rigorously trained and can ensure that all waste is adequately and permanently destroyed. Call us today at 772.600.4885 to discuss your needs and a disposal pick-up schedule that will work best for you.