Proper Disposal of PPE Guidelines
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has played a crucial rule in healthcare settings for a long time, but the COVID-19 pandemic brought its use to new heights, both inside and outside of healthcare settings. While it has undoubtedly saved lives, it has also created a significant amount of waste, making the proper disposal of PPE more important than ever.
In this blog, we’ll cover the types of PPE, along with disposal guidelines for healthcare and home settings.
Types of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
When discussing PPE, it’s important to know what’s considered to fall under the umbrella term. Below are common types of PPE and their purpose.
| Type of PPE | Purpose |
| Goggles | Protects the eyes |
| Face shields | Protects the face, eyes, nose, and mouth |
| Hair covers and hoods | Protects the head, neck, and hair |
| Masks and respirators | Protects the mouth, nose, and respiratory tract |
| Gowns and aprons | Protects skin and clothing |
| Gloves | Protects the hands |
| Leg and shoe covers | Protects skin, clothing, and shoes |
Choosing the appropriate PPE is an important part of protecting yourself from potentially infectious materials (OPIMs). Healthcare employees should anticipate the type of hazard they will encounter and choose PPE accordingly.
Disposal of PPE in Healthcare Settings
The good news about the disposal of PPE in healthcare settings is that the vast majority can be disposed of with your general waste. Even if you’ve interacted with sick patients, there’s generally no need to treat it as hazardous or pathological waste.
However, there are exceptions. In cases where pathological waste, such as blood or fluids, comes into contact and contaminates the PPE, you will generally need to treat it as pathological waste and dispose of it in the pathological waste bin.
For healthcare professionals involved in chemotherapy treatments, there is a chance it will need to be disposed of as chemotherapy waste. If the PPE becomes soaked with the chemotherapy treatment, it will need to be treated as bulk chemotherapy waste. In a case where it comes in contact with the chemotherapy drug but is not soaked, it should be treated as trace chemotherapy waste.
Disposal of PPE at Home and for Individuals
Outside of home care situations where pathological or chemotherapy waste might be involved, individuals can dispose of their used PPE as they would any other trash at home. However, to reduce the risk of any infection from anything the PPE has protected you from, it’s best to make sure the bin has a lid and closes after you’ve put the used PPE in it.
Medical Waste Disposal with Medical Waste Pros
Medical Waste Pros partners with a nationwide network of medical waste disposal companies that can ensure that all of your medical waste, including contaminated PPE, is disposed of properly. Give us a call at (888) 755-6370, or fill out the form on the page, and we’ll find an affordable and convenient medical waste disposal solution that works for you.
