Medical and Hazardous Waste Treatment Unit
College of Dentistry — University of Baghdad
About the Unit
The Medical and Hazardous Waste Treatment Unit administratively reports to the Associate Dean for Scientific Affairs. The Unit is responsible for receiving waste generated by the College's educational laboratories, in addition to waste produced by the educational clinics of the College of Dentistry, University of Baghdad.
Unit Objective
Protecting Public Health and the Environment
The Unit aims to protect individuals, society, and the environment by raising awareness among students, staff, and faculty members regarding the importance of classifying waste generated in laboratories and educational clinics. This facilitates its safe transfer to designated treatment sites in accordance with health and environmental regulations and public safety requirements.
Unit Operations
Conducting workshops and educational lectures for dental assistants, laboratory supervisors, and faculty members on the safe handling and segregation of hazardous waste.
Training staff in the scientific departments and raising awareness about waste categories, safe transportation procedures, and the importance of preventing hazardous waste from being mixed with general waste.
Increasing student awareness through instructional signage and practical guidance on waste categories and proper segregation methods.
Maintaining continuous cooperation with the College's central infection-control committee to ensure compliance with safety procedures and protect students, faculty members, and staff.
Collaborating with other dental colleges and coordinating with the Ministry of Health and the Dental Association to support scientific workshops and promote awareness among professionals and graduates.
Providing clearly labelled yellow waste bags for hazardous materials in order to distinguish them from ordinary waste.
Providing yellow containers with clear colour-coded and written labels to facilitate waste segregation at the source.
Providing large central containers for temporary storage of hazardous waste before its safe and periodic transportation to designated treatment facilities.
Types of Waste Handled by the Unit
Educational Laboratory Waste
- Bacterial growth samples and culture media.
- Serum, blood, and saliva samples.
- Laboratory materials, stains, and diluted acids used in educational laboratories.
- Laboratory slides, used syringes, and blood-sampling tools.
Educational Clinic Waste
Items contaminated with saliva or blood that may cause injury or transmit infection, including local anaesthetic needles, scalpels, surgical sutures, dental drilling instruments, and selected endodontic instruments.
Materials contaminated with patient saliva or blood, in addition to materials used during dental procedures across different clinical specialties.
Toxic Materials
- Residual amalgam capsules, which are isolated in designated containers because of possible mercury residues.
- Dry batteries, which are collected in dedicated containers and must not be disposed of with general waste.