Effectiveness of a ultraviolet (UV)-equipped waste box in reducing bacterial contamination in laboratory waste

Infectious waste handling is a serious problem in healthcare, especially laboratory units. With the increase in research activities, innovative designs are needed that can reduce the risk of contamination and effective solutions are needed for laboratory waste management. Management of infectious solid waste often involves expensive techniques such as incineration, chemical treatment or autoclaving to minimize hazardous substances. Waste left over from laboratory testing activities requires special treatment before disposal. This study aims to test the ability of the waste box equipped with Ultraviolet (UV) in inhibiting the growth of Staphyloccus aereus. This study used a simple 2 mm thick acrylic bin model with a Black box height of 50 cm and a base of 1600 cm2, equipped with Ultra Violet (UV) C (wavelength 200–280) to inactivate some viruses and bacteria. The bacteria used was Staphylococcus aureus which was characterized through Gram staining, morphology, and biochemical tests. The study demonstrated the effectiveness of using ultraviolet lamps in the waste box to reduce the growth of staphylococcus aureus bacteria, which is an indicator of infectious waste bacteria. In conclusion, the use of mini-bin bins with UV lamps can be an effective alternative in handling infectious waste in testing laboratories, but further testing is needed for the recovery of other bacteria, viruses, and fungi.