ABSTRACT
Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are the most widely used modalities of treatment of patients with acute or chronic renal failure, with transplantation as the ultimate goal. Both dialysis and renal transplantation therapy make extensive use of disposable materials. The use of these materials yields easy access to either the general circulation or the peritoneal cavity under sterile conditions. Disposables are also extensively used in different other clinical applications. Those materials are mostly synthetic polymers. Their widespread use is attributed to their ease of manufacturing into the final product or its component, their ability to make the material into a variety of devices, and their relatively low production costs. The choice of the appropriate material is generally determined by economical, practical, and patient-related factors. After use, many of these items are discarded and are considered as medical waste. For dialysis treatments, this consists of dialyzers, intravenous fluid administration sets and bags, dressings, syringes, dialysis tubing sets, and concentrate containers. In addition, dialysis waste consists of glass, metal needles, and cardboard. The packaging materials are from the individual item as well as from the bulk supply packaging. Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis originate also liquid waste from body fluids and the used dialysis fluids.
