There are definite waste items that retain the capability to harm humans and the climate dangerously. Therefore, the requirement to contain them becomes a priority for everyone. Such harmful materials are labeled as biohazardous wastes that are normally found in clinical laboratories, healthcare facilities, pharmaceutical enterprises, and research facilities. The containers utilized to seal off biohazardous wastes are known as biohazard bags. The main Biohazard bag color is Red.

What are Biohazard Bags?

The name itself is an understandable term that emphasizes the word biohazard. The requirement to gather, seal, and discard the toxic waste has been clarified by all the scientists, health consultants, and ecologists. Consequently, such pollutants are composed in special categories of bags called biohazard bags that are manufactured up of high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, plastic, and polyethylene.

These bags are prevalent in all the healthcare divisions, particularly during the times of the Covid-19 pandemic. The need for biohazard bags to cast off waste from the coronavirus-infected patients has enhanced radically. According to a report published the global biohazard bags market will cross the $469.1 million mark by 2027, owing to the surge in its use in all medical facilities.

Normally Utilized Biohazard Plastic Bags:

There are several types of bags utilized for containing various types of biohazard fabrics. The important biohazard bags that are favored by all the industries dealing with detrimental waste are mentioned as follows:

Red Biohazard Bags:

These kinds of bags are normally utilized to separate harmful materials from sterilized ones. The red biohazard bags are utilized to amass pathological garbage and only those items that have blood on them. Normally included pollutants are anatomical wastes and body fluids like semen, tissues, saliva, animal carcasses, and organs. Apart from this, dresses that are saturated in blood, specimen swabs, toxic medical tools, and infected gloves are also collected and sealed off in this kind of biohazard bag.

Yellow Biohazard Bags:

These types of biohazard plastic bags are used for ranging chemicals, infectious clinical fabrics, and pharmaceutical medicines. Furthermore, dressings, swabs, tissues, aprons, soiled gloves, nappies, and pads are also amassed and packed in yellow biohazard bags. Some other uncommon items such as IV (intravenous) lines, fluid bags, syringes, and metallic parts are also a part of the biohazard garbage that goes into these bags.

Autoclave Biohazard Bags:

These bags contain colors like red, yellow, and translucent which assistances in distinguishing the kind of garbage that goes in each one of them.

The autoclave biohazard waste disposal bags contain special features that are procured as follows:

• They are spurt and tear-proof under usual situations.
• A biohazard mark is published on all of these bags.
• They are competent in the ASTMD 1709-85 165-gram dart test.
• Endurable temperature is 141? C
• These are manufactured of HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) and LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) plastics.

Dos and Don’ts while Working with Biohazard Bags:

Like every method, strategy, and technology; the Biohazard plastic bag has a severe procedure that is to be followed while dealing with them. The major rules are as follows:

1. Label every bag with a biohazard mark.
2. Always wear an apron, gloves, eye guard, and face masks while transporting the polluted wastes in the biohazard bags.
3. Do not discard the biohazardous waste in city or municipal garbage cans, such damaging wastes are amassed by a licensed medical waste contractor only.
4.  Line the medical waste vessel with biohazard bags.
5. Carry out the autoclaving process on-site before placing the pollutants.
6. Use a tray or a bucket while working with fluid biohazard wastes as precautionary steps.
7. Treat the fluid waste with bleach or autoclave it before discarding it; however, stave off such measures in case of body liquids and chemicals.
8. For sharp items use biohazard sacs that are resilient to puncture and are leakage-proof.
9. Utilize double bags for pathological garbage to prevent leaks.

What is the Purpose of Utilizing Biohazard Waste Disposal Bags?

Biohazard Waste Disposal Bags are available in the market with different pre-printed marks and in several colors, such as red, yellow, blue, and black depending on their intended usage. There are many rules and regulations for utilizing biohazard bags depending on the items and objectives. The main purpose behind using a biohazard bag is to protect the environment and humans from getting polluted by wastes containing infectious agents.

If an individual or medical staff disposes of medical garbage in a normal garbage bag, there is a huge opportunity that dangerous items would leak into our water system. Moreover, the inappropriate discarding of these infectious materials poses a huge threat to local wildlife causing deadly diseases and personal injuries to human beings. Therefore, biohazard bags are an imperative initiative for the safe discarding of biohazardous garbage.

When Should an Individual Use a Biohazard Bag?

One should utilize a biohazard bag when he or she comes across biohazardous garbage. Following are some checklists that can assist an individual to contemplate utilizing a biohazard bag:

• Tissues or contaminated products collected during a procedure
• Things or medical items drenched in blood
• Items that are received from a transmittable patient

Biohazard Bags: An Eco-Friendly Choice for a Healthy Climate

As Biohazard waste disposal bags are decomposable, they have no damaging effects on our environment. Moreover, these bags are very effective in gathering, separating, and appropriately disposing of different biohazardous garbage. Nowadays, regulatory authorities of states have started delivering a more precise definition of items that fall in the category of biohazard garbage. Such initiatives inspire buyers to choose biohazardous aste-discarding procedures that decrease the threat to their community and inspire them to preserve a healthy environment.

FAQs

What distinguishes biohazard bags from regular waste bags?

Biohazardous waste bags must always be in RED or clear (orange bags are not permissible) and labeled with either the words “Biohazardous Garbage,” or with a biohazard label and the word “Biohazard.”

What types of waste are considered biohazardous?

Biohazardous waste, also known as infectious waste (such as blood, body fluids, and human cell lines), is waste polluted with potentially transferable agents or other items that are supposed a threat to public health or the climate.

Can biohazard bags be recycled?

Medical plastic reusing is limited mainly due to complications in sorting or cleaning. Recycling medical plastic garbage is possible only through proper coordination between the healthcare sector and recycling enterprises.