The COVID-19 pandemic has affected healthcare workers in many ways. Now, it has been more important for these individuals to protect themselves while helping others fight against the virus. This mainly includes being extra careful and complying with protocols to prevent from being hit by the disease by wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).

However, it does not end with wearing specially designed facemasks, goggles, face shields, gloves, gowns, and headcovers. Proper disposing of waste PPEs is also a must. And, this starts with having the right PPE material bin in your medical facility.

Importance of Proper PPE Waste Management and Disposal

Today, governments are encouraging medical facilities to properly dispose of PPEs, especially with the threat of the COVID-19 still around. Not only that this is good for the environment, but it also helps the number of COVID cases at bay.

With that said, any disposable PPE that has been used should be discarded properly. They should be stored in a PPE material bin with a liner that can be secured when it is already full. Also, you should not just dump your waste bags in communal waste areas, as this would risk contamination. Instead, you should place them in a more secured area where the collectors can still pick them up easily.

Thankfully, managing and disposing of these pieces of equipment is straightforward and easy with the right disposable PPE bin and a good waste collection regimen.

Choosing the Right Bin for Used PPE

When purchasing PPE waste bins for your facility, you should look into some important factors to make the right choice.

Capacity

Of course, you should choose a bin for used PPE with enough capacity to handle waste that should be put into it. You would not want something that fills up too quickly. On the other hand, a bin that is too large would just use up space or look awkward where it is placed.

One way to determine the right PPE bin size is by knowing the number of healthcare workers you have. The figure should give you an idea of how many pieces of PPEs you will be using every day.

Placement

With regards to this type of waste container, you will have a couple of options: indoor and outdoor. For your staff members, you will most likely need indoor bins where they can throw their masks and gloves at the end of the day. However, you will also most likely need an outdoor bin where you store your waste PPEs for collection.

Material

The used PPE disposal bin that you purchase should be durable to last long. In this regard, you can choose those made of metal. However, if you want something that is more eco-friendly, plastic bins are the better option because they are recyclable. They are also lighter, thus easier to move or handle.

Cinches

Cinches keep liners in place inside the bin. This is a very important feature to have, considering that PPEs should be kept secured inside.

Design and Colour

Waste segregation is important in mitigating any potential risks of infection in the waste management process. With that said, it is best to have a rubbish bin with compartments and labels, so it will be easier for those who are collecting, transporting, and treating your waste materials.

Of course, you should also choose those with colours that fit the existing theme of your facility for aesthetic purposes.

Conclusion

If used PPE is not properly disposed of, it can cause more harm than good. Imagine one of your healthcare personnel touching a mask or a glove that is potentially contaminated and going about their day. All of a sudden, the virus has spread throughout your facility.

That is why you should implement proper PPE waste management and disposal using the right PPE material bin. This way, you can set your facility up for success in helping the fight against the deadly virus.

For more useful information on health and fitness, read our other articles!