Pharmaceutical Waste to Energy: How Does it Work?

At MedAssureServices.com, we disinfect pharmaceutical waste so thoroughly that it is safe for transfer to waste-to-energy plants. This allows your disinfected waste to be a part of a process called energy recovery.

Energy recovery harnesses electric and thermal energy from alternative sources like pharmaceutical waste, reducing the need for energy produced by burning coal. In the long term, energy recovery systems could decrease the number of coal power plants across the country, improve air quality, and combat climate change.

Incineration is the most common waste-to-energy technique. Incinerators can reduce the volume of waste by as much as 96 percent, but they are only 14 to 28 percent energy-efficient and release small particulate and gas emissions into the atmosphere. More modern waste-to-energy techniques such as gasification can convert pharmaceutical waste more efficiently into gas or liquid fuels.

Of course, energy recovery through waste-to-energy systems is only one benefit of medical waste management. In addition to readying the waste for energy conversion, medical waste services also keep infected and/or radioactive waste a safe distance from the community, thus reducing the spread of disease.

We Offer Medical Waste Services in Indiana and New Jersey!

Are you a pharmaceutical waste generator in Indiana or New Jersey? If so, you're probably used to sending your medical waste out of state for disposal — not to mention the expensive shipping fees associated with these services. That is, unless you trust your medical waste disposal to MedAssureServices.com. We operate medical waste services located in both Indiana and New Jersey, providing convenient access for waste generators in both states.

Indianapolis, IN

Operating Indianapolis' only medical waste processor, Med Assure Services makes waste disposal more affordable than ever before by significantly reducing shipping costs. Our facility is conveniently located on Montcalm Street in Indianapolis near Routes 65 and 70. Plus, our process has been approved by the Indiana Department of Environment Management (IDEM).

Lakewood, NJ

Med Assure Services created the first commercial waste disposal plant in New Jersey. Less than 20 minutes from the Garden State Parkway, our facility is located in a convenient industrial/commercial zone designed for efficient traffic flow and easy access. Our medical waste management system has also been approved by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection.

Does My Practice Need Medical Waste Management?

When we talk about medical and pharmaceutical waste, it's easy to think that the only facilities that require medical waste management are the big ones: hospitals and laboratories.

And although these places do rely on medical waste services, they are not alone. Even small doctors' offices, dental practices, and free clinics must also dispose of their medical waste responsibly, which means that they too trust their potentially infectious and radioactive waste to professional services.

Why? For one thing, it's important to remember just how many items qualify as medical waste. These include used gauze and other bandages; “sharps” such as scalpels, needles, and lancets; and quantities of blood and other bodily fluids. Can you imagine a doctors' office that doesn't produce at least some of these items as waste?

Fortunately, medical waste management can be as accessible to small practices as it is to large facilities, especially with companies like www.MedAssureServices.com. Our convenient location cuts down on shipping costs, making our medical waste services much more affordable. Plus, our state-of-the-art medical waste disposal technology means no environmental impact, noise, or odor, allowing us to work without disrupting any neighboring businesses.

Medical Waste Removal: Missing That Personal Touch?

Finding quality medical waste management is tough. First of all, you want a service that can get the job done. This means effectively disinfecting pharmaceutical waste without harming medical staff, waste operators and technicians, or the environment. At the same time, it's also important to find a service you can trust — a service with a face.

In a way, choosing a medical waste removal service is just like buying a cup of coffee. You know — the way it feels better to order your morning pick-me-up from a local café instead of a big-name chain.

Looking for medical waste services is the same way — big corporations are not committed to your region, only turning a profit. In fact, their treatment plants are almost always located in isolated areas, increasing shipping costs dramatically.

Fortunately, www.MedAssureServices.com offers the best of both worlds. We provide modern waste disposal services featuring state-of-the-art technology with no environmental impact. And our convenient Indianapolis location reduces your shipping expenses. Plus, our medical waste removal facility is as quiet as it is modern, ensuring that nearby industries are not disturbed.

Are Medical Waste Disposal Operators Safe?

Medical waste can be highly toxic and infective and needs to be handled carefully and treated to stop the risk of disease transmission. Treatment methods range from incineration and sterilization to chemical disinfection and microwave heat.

If medical waste is so dangerous, are those people working in the medical waste disposal field safe? The answer is yes. Leading medical waste management companies like MedAssure meet or exceed regulatory standards, using cutting-edge processes to ensure that their employees are working in an environment that fully adheres to workplace health and safety requirements.

The MedAssure system features engineering controls that ensure waste is fully disinfected and destructed to protect facility operators from any exposure to risk. An automatic lift/load system places all medical waste into a fully self-contained unit, which eliminates the need for any double or triple handling of waste. Built-in processes and controls keep operators safe from occupational hazards such as spills, lifting and needle stick injuries that are possible in less advanced medical waste handling processes.

A number of safety checks are built in to the entire medical waste removal process to ensure thorough disinfection. The treated waste is transported using a one-container system, and the non-infectious material can be disposed of like any other trash.

What is Pharmaceutical Waste?

Nobody likes to deal with garbage, but pharmaceutical waste isn’t just unpleasant – it’s dangerous. The term is used in the medical industry to describe byproducts such as diagnostic samples, bodily fluids, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, radioactive waste, and body parts, as well as soiled materials like dressings and syringes.

Pharmaceutical waste comes with two major health concerns: infection and radioactivity. If medical workers, waste technicians, patients, or anyone else comes in contact with infected items – particularly sharp objects like needles and scalpels – they are at risk for contracting and spreading the infection themselves. Scavenged and repackaged medical syringes are often contaminated with viruses like hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. Additionally, radioactive waste can lead to multiple health problems and must also be handled with special care.

Improper disposal of pharmaceutical waste is also dangerous. Conventional waste incineration releases harmful dioxins and furans into the air – pollutants that have been associated with reproductive problems, skin lesions, and cancer. Scientists are still researching the exact effects of dioxins and furans, however the general consensus is that their emission should be reduced as much as possible.

For this reason, www.MedAssureServices.com provides state-of-the-art medical waste management that does not produce any emissions, so that we can protect people and the environment from the potential effects of medical waste.

Finding the Best Medical Waste Services

From small-town offices to big-city hospitals, medical facilities of all sizes are responsible for disposing of their pharmaceutical waste in the safest way possible. But what makes certain medical waste services safer than others? Read on for some of the qualities to look for when searching for a waste disposal company.

Community Respect

At www.MedAssureServices.com, we provide a convenient site in Indianapolis without disturbing the community around us, as our facility is located in an area zoned for commercial and industrial use. We have smart truck access to prevent traffic backup, and we do all of our medical waste processing inside our facility in a closed unit, which means that no odors, noise, or emissions are produced. And of course, our convenient location has reduced the shipping costs of many of our clients.

Patient Privacy

As a medical professional, you know that it’s important to protect your patients’ privacy even after they leave the exam room. This is why www.MedAssureServices.com developed a medical waste management system that prevents identity theft by concealing any personal information contained in the waste.