The proper disposal of medical waste is essential to ensure hazardous materials do not pollute the environment and harm human health. Proper management of medical waste includes:

• Disposing of medical waste properly instead of incinerating it; many medical facilities incinerate their waste, which releases pollutants into the air
• Understanding what kinds of medical waste need to be disposed of in a special manner and what kinds can be recycled
• Containing waste in biohazard bags as appropriate to prevent leaks
• Storing waste in a designated area and ensuring waste is unable to leak or spread from there until it can be disposed of
• Decontaminating waste as needed to ensure it can be properly handled later