In-House Hospital Waste Disposal Vs. Hauling: How To Determine the Right Fit
Waste disposal is an inevitable part of hospital operations. When it comes to how hospitals manage waste, there are two options: handling disposal in-house or outsourcing to a hauling service.
On paper, hiring a hauling service may seem like the simplest solution—as it seemingly takes the burden off hospital administrators. But is it really the ideal option? Here, we’ll dig into why moving hospital waste disposal in-house may actually be your best bet.
Why Hospitals Use Hauling Services for Waste Disposal
Hospitals are increasingly outsourcing both clinical and nonclinical services. The reasoning behind this trend: administrators are under pressure to cut costs, streamline operations and focus on patient care.
Medical waste management is often one of the functions that hospitals choose to outsource to an external provider, with various justifications for doing so:
- Less staff to manage: Hiring and training staff for hospital waste disposal can feel daunting. Using a hauling service avoids concerns about staffing or expertise in this area.
- No equipment or system to maintain: Some hospitals are hesitant to invest in on-site disposal systems. They assume the logistics of managing a system are too complex or that doing so comes with big upfront costs.
- Curb regulatory hassles: Medical waste disposal is tied to strict regulations. Many hospitals would prefer to leave compliance concerns associated with regulated medical waste to external providers.
- Focus on patient care: Since waste disposal isn’t a core function of a hospital’s mission, outsourcing it is seen as a way to keep resources and attention on core operations.
The Downsides of Hauling Services for Hospital Waste
Considering that many of a hospital’s outsourcing decisions are tied to cost pressures, it’s important to highlight one of the biggest misconceptions about hauling services: that they save money. In reality, these outsourced services often end up costing hospitals more in the long run.
Hauling services for hospital waste charge for every pickup, transportation, and disposal—costs that add up significantly over time, considering the amount of waste that hospitals produce. As healthcare waste volumes increase, so do the disposal fees.
While trying to conserve costs, hospitals are also looking to meet sustainability goals. Hauling services can work against these efforts. Every truckload translates into more emissions, and some disposal methods used by haulers aren’t the most efficient.
All the while, hospitals have to work around the schedules of their waste haulers. If a pickup is delayed, waste can pile up, creating storage issues and potential health risks. These inconveniences can also surface as hospital needs evolve. For instance, a hospital expanding its service may find its waste volume exceeds the limits of its existing service contract, tacking on additional fees and disrupting their operations.
The Advantages of In-House Hospital Waste Disposal
Hauling services do have their time and place in a healthcare setting. For instance, smaller hospitals with low waste volumes may not generate enough waste to justify an in-house system. Hauling services also offer a short-term solution when hospitals need waste management support during renovations or expansions. But generally speaking, in-house hospital waste disposal comes out as the best of the two options.
Whether a hospital installs and operates their own waste disposal system or brings in experts to oversee the process, there are clear benefits attached to this decision.
Notable Cost Savings
When you opt to take your medical waste disposal in-house, you can benefit from a monthly all-inclusive charge, with no capital required even when you have a unit on site. This is often the right choice for a hospital system spanning multiple clinical locations with clearly defined waste streams, as you can pay the single monthly cost without worrying about additional pick-up fees.
If you do prefer to go the capital investment route, the long-term savings that come with eliminating hauling fees can still be substantial. Hospitals that produce a large amount of medical waste can see a return on their investment within a few years, as they no longer have to pay per-pound disposal costs or transportation fees. In-house systems can also be customized to a facility’s needs, curbing unnecessary costs.
Full Process Oversight
When medical waste is processed on-site, hospitals maintain direct oversight of how it’s handled. There are no concerns over mishandling by an external provider that could result in fines or legal action. At the same time, hospitals can implement their own quality control measures, train staff on best practices, and adjust protocols to align with evolving regulations.
More Efficient Operations
An in-house system can process waste as it’s generated, reducing storage needs and eliminating the wait time associated with external haulers. The faster waste can be sterilized and disposed of, the less waste accumulation hospitals have to deal with and the fewer risks there are for contamination in high-traffic zones.
Support for Sustainability Goals
In-house hospital waste disposal can reduce carbon emissions by cutting out excess transport and providing options for more eco-friendly waste treatment methods. Ozone treatment, for example, uses ozone to disinfect and break down waste without the need for high-energy incineration. While ensuring safe and effective waste processing, hospitals can lower their environmental footprint.
How WasteMedX Can Help
The idea of managing medical waste disposal in-house might seem overwhelming. That’s why, at WasteMedX, we’ve built a business around supporting these needs.
We don’t just provide a sustainable, eco-friendly waste processing system—we can function as your hospital’s in-house waste management team. Our services include:
- Comprehensive waste management solutions: We provide hospitals with in-house systems to process medical waste, along with the necessary equipment, including containers, trucks, and vans, helping you manage waste safely and efficiently.
- Staffing and operations support: We supply trained personnel to handle your waste disposal process, eliminating the need for hospitals to hire and train staff.
- Preventive maintenance and on-call service: Our team keeps your waste management system fully operational with routine maintenance and rapid-response service.
- Regulatory compliance assurance: We stay up to date on all the medical waste regulations so that your facility remains compliant at all times.
By partnering with WasteMedX, your hospital can take full control of waste disposal, cutting costs, improving efficiency and achieving sustainability goals. Make today the day you explore a better way to manage your hospital’s waste disposal—contact us.
