Final answer:
Medical waste must be sterilized, often incinerated, and is subject to strict regulations, while normal trash, or municipal solid waste (MSW), is less regulated and may be sent to landfills or used in waste-to-energy processes. Hazardous waste, a category that sometimes overlaps with medical waste and can be present in MSW, is also strictly regulated under various environmental laws.
Step-by-step explanation:
When comparing medical waste to normal trash, there are distinct differences in handling and regulatory practices. Medical waste includes items that have been contaminated with potentially infectious materials and requires special disposal methods to protect public health and the environment. Commonly, this waste is handled through sterilization (e.g., autoclaving) before it enters the waste stream, and often, it's incinerated to safely neutralize harmful pathogens.
On the other hand, municipal solid waste (MSW), more casually referred to as normal trash, consists of everyday items discarded by the public. MSW is less regulated for biohazards but must still follow guidelines to minimize environmental impact. It is typically collected by municipalities and may be sent to landfills or transformed into energy through waste-to-energy processes. However, unlike medical waste, it does not universally require specialized treatments like incineration.
Hazardous waste, including mixed wastes that contain both hazardous and radioactive components, are subject to stringent regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Atomic Energy Act. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) closely regulates the management of hazardous waste to ensure it does not pose a threat to human health or the environment. It is important to recognize that normal trash can sometimes include hazardous components that need special handling, much like medical waste.