The growth of the medical spa industry is on the rise and is expected to reach $25.9 billion by 2026. Capitalize on this lucrative growth and help ensure your spa’s success by putting safety first. This means staying up-to-date with the latest guidelines and best practices, including proper medical waste disposal and management.
What are Med Spas?
Medical spas, commonly known as med spas, provide a variety of doctor-supervised, non-surgical aesthetic procedures, such as Botox, liposuction, chemical peels, and laser hair removal. These specialized treatments, typically found at a dermatology office or plastic surgery clinic, can produce medical waste, including sharps waste like needles, syringes, and scalpels and pharmaceutical waste like dermal fillers, botulinum toxins, and anesthetics.
How to Dispose of Sharps Waste From Med Spas
While some Provinces have no current regulations regarding the proper disposal of sharps generated in med spas, safety first is always the best policy. Sharps injuries are a traumatic experience and could be life-altering. A study by Ryerson University found that needlestick and sharps injuries are a major concern in Canadian healthcare, approximately 70,000 injuries occur each year.
To safeguard your staff, business, and community, sharps should be disposed of in specially designed containers. All contaminated sharps should be placed in a puncture-resistant container in accordance with National Standard of Canada (CAN)/CSA Standard CAN/CSAZ317.10.
Med spas can use a trusted third-party service to collect, treat, and dispose of their sharps waste. Stericycle offers a wide variety of container sizes and service models, Stericycle can provide a waste management program specific to your spa’s needs and waste volumes.
One option for managing sharps waste is Stericycle’s Sharps Management Service. This option provides a safe, efficient, and sustainable option, utilizing reusable containers and streamlines the collection and disposal of sharps waste:
- Seamless Installation
- Full-Service or Self-Service Container Exchange
- Tracked at Pick-Up
- Recorded for Compliant Treatment and Disposal
- Washed, Disinfected, and Inspected for Quality
- Safely and Sustainably Reused
How to Dispose of Pharmaceutical Waste From Med Spas
Health Canada through the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) regulates controlled drugs and opioids while the Provincial Ministries of the Environment all have regulations on pharmaceutical waste disposal. These regulations specify how pharmaceutical waste must be classified and disposed of based on prescribed criteria and procedures.
Other agencies that regulate pharmaceutical waste disposal include Transport Canada, which covers how drug waste should be transported to waste management facilities, and Environment Canada.
What Are the Different Hazardous Waste Pharmaceutical Categories?
All pharmaceutical waste requires safe and secure disposal. However, some pharmaceutical wastes, based on its chemical properties, have specific disposal requirements. These properties include such criteria as toxicity, flammability/ignitability, or corrosivity. For example, chemotherapy drugs have high toxicity which require them to receive specific treatment. Drugs that are under pressure (i.e. aerosol cans), that are flammable (like certain cough syrups) also have specific requirements. Generators must ensure that they properly segregate and classify their waste streams to ensure proper disposal.
Is the Disposal of Sharps and Pharmaceutical Waste Generated at Med Spas Regulated?
Be sure to check your provincial guidelines for applicable rules and regulations. However, even if you work in a province that does not regulate med spa waste, collecting and managing sharps and pharmaceutical waste properly will help keep your employees and your clients safe.
Are Med Spas Required to Follow Safety Standards?
The Canada Labour Code and Provincial Labour Ministries address the worker safety implications regarding bloodborne pathogen transmission and cover topics like proper waste containers, staff training, and injury reporting.
Learn more about how Stericycle can help support your med spa’s medical waste management needs.
