CORNER BROOK — A bag marked “biohazard” containing what appeared to be a medical specimen was found on the ground outside a medical clinic dumpster this week.
The small bag was found outside the Western Memorial Health Clinic, located on Herald Avenue in Corner Brook.
A name and address of the woman the specimen was likely taken from was on the container inside the bag.
A Western Health spokesperson told The Western Star it may have come from any of three health-related offices in the area of the clinic, and there was no way of tracking its origin.
Following a request to Western Health late Wednesday afternoon, no further information was provided nor was anyone available for an interview.
Rhea Hutchings, Corner Brook’s sustainability officer, said hazardous waste should not be disposed of in dumpsters and organizations would have to go through appropriate waste disposal methods.
“According to the environmental standards for municipal solid waste landfill sites, the disposal of hazardous waste is prohibited … unless the appropriate containment and handling is approved by the Department of Environment,” she stated in an email.
The Corner Brook waste disposal site is not permitted to accept hazardous waste.
Hutchings said industrial, commercial and institutional organizations must dispose of their hazardous waste through one of the commercial hazardous waste haulers in the province.
Early Wednesday evening, the bag was no longer in the area where it was earlier found by a Western Star employee.
