Frequently Asked Questions

The Medical Waste tracking Act of 1988 defines medical waste as “any solid waste that is generated in the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals, in research pertaining thereto, or in the production or testing of biologicals.”  This definition includes, but is not limited to:

• blood-soaked bandages
• culture dishes and other glassware
• discarded surgical gloves
• discarded surgical instruments
• discarded needles used to give shots or draw blood (e.g., medical sharps)
• cultures, stocks, swabs used to inoculate cultures
• removed body organs (e.g., tonsils, appendices, limbs)
• discarded lancets

Secure Stream utilizes state approved incineration and autoclave treatment technologies for the disposal of all waste types.  All “red bag” biohazardous waste will be autoclaved and rendered nonhazardous.  Other types of waste such as pharmaceutical, chemotherapeutic, and pathological waste cannot be autoclaved, they must be incinerated.  Therefore, these types of wastes must be properly segregated by the generator and labeled accordingly to assure proper handling.

Yes, free containers and liners are included with the service. The containers we provide are standard 30 gallon corrugated containers (18x18x24”) which have a maximum weight capacity of 50lbs.  We also provide our customers with the option to use a 28 gallon poly container, if desired, at an additional charge to cover sterilization after each use.

• Closed and tied red bag waste
• Closed and locked disposable sharps containers
• Soft red bag waste, including but not limited to: gauze, table paper, blood soaked items, intravenous bags, soft plastic items, gloves, gowns, bandages, etc.
• Chemotherapeutic, pharmaceutical, and pathological waste may be placed in separate, properly labeled, cardboard medical waste boxes.

• No hazardous or radioactive waste
• No loose liquid in excess of 20cc
• No loose syringes or needles
• No loose hard plastic items, such as pipettes or culture dishes
• If it can puncture the red bag, it needs to be placed in a sharps container
• No glass items.

Full, disposable, sharps containers may be commingled with other “red bag” medical waste and placed into the medical waste container.  Sharps bin must be securely closed before placing into medical waste container.

• All needles and syringes
• Hard plastic pipettes and tips
• Glassware items including but not limited to: test tubes, vials, bottles, slides, etc.
• Items made of metal, razor blades, scalpels, knives, tweezers, scissors, etc.
• If it can puncture the red bag, it needs to be placed in a sharps container

Yes. We can schedule an emergency or off schedule pickup. If you can wait until the next time we are in your area, you will only be billed your contract price for the pickup. If we have to send a driver out to do the pickup off route, an additional transportation fee along with your contract pricing will be billed to your account.

Yes. We are properly permitted and insured to transport medical waste in the state of Kentucky and Tennessee.  We will be glad to provide copies of all required permits as well as proper insurance documentation to assure our customers that we are fully compliant with all state and federal requirements.

Secure Stream provides medical waste services throughout the entire state of Kentucky and parts of Tennessee.

The generator of the medical waste is always responsible for the waste. However, Secure Stream can provide you with certificates of insurance that denotes we are fully covered with workmen’s compensation, general, property, truck, and pollution liability. Your medical waste provider can lessen your liabilities with this full coverage package for their handling and by effectively disposing of the waste in a timely manner.

There are never any additional charges associated with our services.  The rate we quote you at the beginning of service is a per container rate and includes all charges and fees.

Medical waste must be stored in a manner and location that is accessible only to authorized employees maintaining the integrity of the packaging and providing protection from the elements and wildlife. It also must be easily accessible to the Secure Stream driver in order to do the pickup.