What is considered biohazardous waste?

Biohazard cleanup in Orlando is a necessary service in a handful of different kinds of situations, but what exactly determines whether or not these special cleaners are needed? They are often called in for blood cleaning or crime scene clean-up, but there are a few specific factors that make their presence necessary. Certain types of dry and liquid waste will warrant a call to the biohazard cleanup team, and so will specific types of tools. Continue reading if you are interested in learning what is considered biohazardous waste.

Dry Waste

Blood tends to be the prototypical example of biohazardous waste, but there are in fact several different kinds. Dry waste does not include blood itself. It often refers to waste that has been contaminated by biohazardous materials or has been used to clean them, such as paper towels. It may also describe culture flasks and Petri dishes that have been contaminated, as well as waste that has come from viruses or bacteria. Any waste that has been contaminated with infectious secretions or excretions can also be defined as dry waste. It is imperative that the cleaning of dry biohazardous waste is left to a team of trained professionals.

Liquid Waste

Blood does not fall into the category of dry waste, but it does qualify as liquid biohazardous waste. This blood might come from humans or animals. In addition to blood itself, elements of blood can also be considered liquid waste. Blood is not the only type of liquid waste, however; other bodily fluids from both humans and animals can be considered liquid biohazardous waste. These types of waste are often found at crime scenes, which is why biohazardous waste teams are the ones to be called in.

Sharps

Bloodborne pathogens are often transmitted through sharp objects, and the objects that were used classify as a type of biohazardous waste called sharps. Slides, blades, and hypodermic needles may all be considered biohazardous waste if they have come into contact with blood. It is crucial to dispose of these sharps in the proper manner. Again, this is why biohazardous waste teams are the ones for the job.