Business PickupWhat does medical and lab e-waste entail?
- Encompasses electronic medical devices such as MRI and CT scanners, monitors, and infusion pumps; also includes laboratory analyzers, centrifuges, and diagnostic systems with embedded computers or sensors
- Many of these devices store or process sensitive data and therefore require careful handling at the end of their lifespan
- The volume of decommissioned equipment is growing due to factors like technology refresh cycles and regulatory obsolescence, which occurs when evolving standards force still-functioning devices out of compliance
- According to a 2025 environmental impact report, healthcare facilities generate more than 6,600 tonnes of medical equipment waste across the world each day.
The data risks of medical and lab equipment e-waste
- Many medical devices contain hard drives or flash memory containing protected healthcare information (PHI).
- Should these drives be improperly wiped or destroyed, data breaches can have astronomical consequences, from violations that result in significant penalties to class action and civil liability, as well as reputational damage.
- Partnering with NAID AAA-certified ITAD providers is the best way to ensure verifiable data destruction.
Biohazard risks: Safe handling and decontamination
- Lab and medical devices can also retain biological contaminants or chemical residues.
- Decontamination must take place before recycling or repurposing, and should involve protocols such as:
- Equipment decontamination logs and labeling
- Coordination between biosafety officers and disposal vendors
- Adherence to applicable guidelines, such as the Canadian Biosafety Standard
- This approach not only prioritizes worker safety but also supports environmental responsibility
Compliance and sustainable disposition
- There are multiple regulatory obligations that can impact how healthcare organizations dispose of medical and lab e-waste, including:
- The Personal Information Protection and Electronics Document Act (PIPEDA)
- The Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA)
- provincial-level e-waste recycling laws
- To navigate compliant disposition for medical and lab e-waste, be sure to partner with a certified recycler (such as R2v3 or e-Stewards) for traceable and sustainable processing.
Quantum is both NAID-AAA certified for secure ITAD and R2v3 certified for e-waste recycling, ensuring healthcare equipment is disposed of both ethically and securely. Find out more about our ITAD solutions here.