ABSTRACT
Each year, more than 3.5 million tons of medical wastes is generated in the United States (Lee et al. 2004). For comparison, about 249 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) is generated annually (see Table 1.3). The majority of medical waste is generated during administration of healthcare, research by medical institutions, and home healthcare activities. The institutions generating most of the medical waste include hospitals, laboratories, physicians, dentists, veterinarians, long-term healthcare facilities, clinics, blood banks, and funeral homes. The majority (approximately 77%) of regulated medical waste (RMW), however, is generated by hospitals. Most of the remaining classes of generators produce relatively small quantities (<23 kg or 50 lb per month) of RMW. The distribution of waste types from various sources is presented in Figure 20.1.
