While Covid-19 news changes by the moment, one positive update to share is MERI accepts blue wrap again. Earlier, we put a temporary hold on collecting this surgical wrapping material in light of the coronavirus outbreak. But, now that safe systems are in place, we can collect it again.
MERI Accepts Blue Wrap Again
Blue wrap binds sterilized surgical tools to prevent contamination. Many hospitals and surgical centers recycle blue wrap to keep their medical waste costs down. Diverting blue wrap from landfills is a good thing. One of our customers recycled almost 19,000 pounds of blue wrap – about 10 percent of its total biohazard waste.
However, in order to continue to fly the sustainability flag, blue wrap recycling must be done properly. Now more than ever, it’s important that we protect the environment — and ourselves — from the coronavirus.So, if you are going to have our MERI men collect your blue wrap, first and foremost, you need to make sure it is just blue wrap. Nothing else. To help, we have this free poster for you to follow to make sure you properly recycle your blue wrap.
Separate Blue Wrap From the Rest of Your Medical Waste
Once blue wrap is removed from surgical tools, don’t trash it! This heavy-duty polypropylene #5 is collected by certain waste disposal companies, like MERI, for recycling into other products.
In order for the blue wrap recycling process to work, follow this simple rule. Separate blue wrap from the rest of your medical waste. Our customers put their blue wrap into a clear plastic bag for us to collect. We pick it up at the same time we pick up their medical waste.
Again, it bears repeating: Separate your blue wrap from the rest of your medical waste if you’d like it to be properly recycled. We’ve seen everything from paper towels to medical instruments and devices to knee joints. Yes, you read that correctly. They were in with the blue wrap recycling bag. If anything is in the bag that shouldn’t be, it contaminates the entire bag, and the whole bag thrown out instead of baled. Oh, and if you’re still stuck on the knee joint and don’t believe us, well, we’re going to spare you a picture of that.
Proper Blue Wrap Recycling
The ONLY thing that should be in your clear blue-wrap bag is blue wrap or associated tape used around the blue wrap that holds the medical instruments.
DO:
* Place only Blue wrap Associated Tape Used to Hold Medical Instruments
DON’T HAVE ANY OF THESE IN YOUR BLUE WRAP RECYCLING BAG:
- Bodily Fluids/Blood
- Sharps/Needles
- Hazardous Materials
- Infectious Materials
- Contaminated Materials
- Chemicals/Gloves
- Liquids
- Radioactive Materials
- Medical Instruments or Medical Devices
Free Blue Wrap Poster
To educate everyone on proper blue wrap disposal, hang this poster to make it abundantly clear above your blue wrap container. Most importantly, hang it near where your blue wrap recycling bin is located.
If you’re a medical clinic or surgical center looking to improve your sustainability record, recycling blue wrap could be your answer. But remember, your efforts are only as good as making good on proper blue wrap recycling. That way, your blue wrap will get new life rather than end up in the landfill.
