Monthly Archives: February 2026
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February 12, 2026
If you've ever paused mid-procedure and thought:
"This is literally a human body part... how is this NOT biohazard waste?" You're not alone. One of the most misunderstood areas in dental Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) is biomedical waste classification, especially when it comes to extracted teeth. Let's clear it up.
First: What Is Biomedical Waste?
According to the Centre for Disease Control and dental regulatory bodies, biomedical waste is classified as hazardous waste and must:
- Be stored in colour-coded containers with the universal biohazard symbol
- Be released to an approved biomedical waste carrier
However, that does NOT include all waste.
Biomedical waste falls into two categories:
1. Anatomical Waste (Human Tissue)
This