Which of the following is an example of general medical waste?

General medical waste refers to materials that are not classified as hazardous and can be treated as regular waste. These items typically do not pose any significant risk of infection or injury to individuals handling the waste. In this context, gloves are considered general medical waste when they are used and not contaminated with any hazardous materials or bodily fluids.

Surgical instruments and saturated surgical gauze, on the other hand, are classified as regulated medical waste due to the potential for them to transmit infections or injuries. Surgical instruments, being sharp and potentially biohazardous, must be carefully handled and disposed of to prevent injury. Saturated surgical gauze also falls into this category as it can carry pathogens if it is contaminated. Sharps, such as needles or blades, are another category of regulated waste due to their risk of causing cuts or infections and must be disposed of in specialized containers.

Thus, gloves, after use, generally do not have the same level of risk associated with them and can be disposed of in regular waste, making them an example of general medical waste.