Many modern waste
containers are designed for automated systems that empty their contents into the waste-disposal system and wash
and disinfect them mechanically. At the other end of the scale, waste containers may also be made out of reused
plastic and metal containers. In all cases, they should be sturdy and leak-proof, and (except for sharps containers)
lined with a sturdy plastic bag. Th recommended thickness of bags for infectious waste is 70 µm (ISO 7765 2004).
Plastics used for either containers or bags should be chlorine-free. Not all plastic bags can withstand temperatures
of 121 °C, and some can melt during an autoclave process.