Ever stood in front of a bunch of color-coded trash bins in a hospital with a used tissue in your hands, wondering which bin is right to throw in your trash? Don't worry, this is a dilemma for many. Your used tissue along with other regular trash, is what people call black bin waste in hospitals.
What Is Black Bin Waste In Hospitals
When you're done with your sandwich and coffee in a hospital, that trash goes in the black bin. So basically any boring regular waste that doesn't involve blood, medicine, or any infectious substances is black bin waste. These are items that are not hazardous and thus can't be disposed of with medical waste. Here are some examples of what goes in the black bins;
- Empty chip bags
- Plastic wrappers
- Used tissues that are not contaminated with blood
- Office items like papers
- Straws and packaging items
Think of it as any waste that you also see in daily life belongs in the black bin.
What Doesn't Go In Black Bin
No, where is a list of stuff that you should absolutely not throw in the black bin?
- Sharp medical stuff, like needles and syringes
- Used dressings
- Items contaminated with bodily fluids
- Anything tainted with blood
- Gloves used in health practices
- Unused or expired pills
- Biohazard items
So, in short, for any medical waste that has a chance of hurting anyone and needs careful handling, the black bin is not a suitable disposal option.
Why All The Fuss About Black Bin Waste?
You might be thinking that disposing of waste in a black bin is a piece of cake, but you may not know how much trouble incorrect disposal can cause for you and the hospital staff as well as patients. Here are a bunch of reasons why the right disposal matters; - First and foremost, disposing of waste the right way saves the planet and keeps it green.
- It also helps to ensure that everyone in the hospital stays safe from the toxic waste.
- You can also prevent any unwanted injuries during waste disposal by making sure toxic waste does not get thrown in the black bin.
- If you mix toxic waste with regular garbage, there is a high chance of you getting fined.
Sorting trash is not rocket science if you know the basics. You should also know what type of garbage belongs in each of the colorful bins that you see in the hospitals. Here is a quick overview of the purpose these bins serve that will help you keep the trash in the right place.
Blue Bins: Here, all your expired drugs or unused medicines go.
Red Bins: Any needles, syringes, or sharps used in medical practices belong here.
Yellow Bins: This is used for clinical and waste that has been infected and contaminated
Black Bins: Normal trash like paper cups and wrappers go here.
What Happens To The Black Bin Waste?
Now that you have thrown the waste, it goes straight to local landfills or processing plants that make energy from these wastes. This type of waste doesn't need any special treatment. This is also one of the reasons why you should be extra careful when throwing trash. Because if you get any biohazard waste in there, it can pollute the ecosystem and mess up the water streams as well.
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