2. Introduction
Medical care is vital for our life, health and well being.
The waste generated from medical activities can be
hazardous, toxic.
Diseases like cholera, plague, skin infection, hepatitis
, AIDS (HIV), pose grave public health risks.
Environmental pollution.
Institutional/Organizational set up, training and
motivation.
Great research & awareness have increased recently.
3. Definition
‘Medical Waste’ means any solid and/or liquid waste including
its container and any intermediate product, which is generated
during the diagnosis, treatment or immunization of human
beings or animals or in research or in the production or testing.
Any waste which consists entirely or partly of human or animal
tissue, blood or other body fluids, excretions, drugs or other
pharmaceutical products, dressings or syringes, needles or other
sharp instruments.
Sources: Arising from medical, nursing, dental, pharmaceutical
or similar practice, investigation, treatment, care, teaching or
research or the collection of blood from transfusion.
5. Generation
Public hospitals produce more healthcare waste than
private hospitals.
Mismanagement of Waste and lack of segregation of
waste.
North America produces 7–10 kg of healthcare waste per
bed/day, South America produces 3kg . Western Europe
produces 3–6 kg, Eastern Europe 1.4–2 kg, In Asia, richer
countries produce 2.5 kg per bed/daily, and poorer
countries 1.8–2 kg per bed/daily.
6. Worldwide Waste Generation
South Africa 0.60 kg/bed/day
Algeria 0.70 kg/bed/day
Brazil 2.63 kg/bed/day
Jordan 6.10 kg/bed/day
Greece 8.4 kg/bed/day
Bangladesh 1.71 kg/bed/day
China 1.22 kg/bed/day
7. Handling & Transportation
Risks to healthcare staffs, the public and the environment.
Codes of practices and guidelines for handling and disposal
Problematic due to its enormous volume of generation, serious threat for the
human health as well as disposal cost.
Clinical waste cannot mix with non-clinical waste.
workers are not educated enough and most of them have not had any special
training on the management of clinical waste.
Do not have appropriate colour coded bags or containers for sorting the different
types of waste.
8. Storage of Waste
Recommended Labelling and Color
Coding
Segregate Storage in Separate
Containers (at the Point of
Generation).
Certification.
Common/Intermediate Storage Area.
10. Incineration
According to the EPA 90% of
medical waste is incinerated
Very effective and secondary
benefit of powering boilers in
the facility
Strict regulations regarding air
emissions
Incinerator Ash is generally
landfilled
12. Autoclaving
Applied heat, pressure, and
sometimes steam for
sterilization.
Often followed by
compaction process, and
eventually reaches landfills
Many landfills are reluctant
to accept the waste due to
concerns that it still is
infectious
13. Microwaving
On-site installation or mobile
treatment vehicles in US
First the waste is shredded and
then it is mixed with water.
Microwaving is applied
internal heat (autoclaving is
external heat)
According to the EPA not Industrial Microwaving Belt
recommended for treatment of
pathological waste
14. Chemical Disinfecting
Primarily through the use of
chlorine products
Waste is first shredded and
mixed with water
According to the
EPA, chemical disinfection is
the most appropriate way to
treat liquid medical waste
15. Irradiation
Exposure of Waste to Cobalt source
Gamma Radiation inactivates all microbes
Special treatment sites are required (No Mobile or in
house process)
High capital cost
Operators’ safety risk in irradiation plant is an issue
Does not sterilize pathological wastes
17. Case Studies
Metro Health Hospital, Wyoming, MI:
Divert and Purchase Reprocessing
Medical Devices
Spectrum Health: Medical Plastics
Recycling
Germany Waste Act: 1991
18. Metro Health Hospital, Wyoming, MI: Divert
and Purchase Reprocessing Medical Devices
What Benefits
Reprocess many Cost savings of $235,803
from purchasing
previously single-use reprocessed SUDs
devices between 2008 and 2010
Including: harmonic „ 1.84 tons of waste
avoided due to
scalpels, orthopedic reprocessing in 2010.
burrs, and orthopedic „ Avoided $900 in
cannulas/trocars regulated medical waste
disposal fees in 2010.
20. Spectrum Health: Medical
Plastics Recycling
Plastics Benefits
„ plastic casing 42,000 pounds of blue wrap
hard plastic from devices diverted to recycling in 2010
paper lined with plastic „ 100 bags per day diverted
plastic from surgical gowns from OR
outer casings of syringes „ Recycling cost half as
soft plastics from glove much as general waste
wrappers „ Increases staff satisfaction
rigid saline bottles relative to reducing
wash basins, and surgical environmental impact of the
preparation kits OR
22. German Waste Act: 1991
Retailers and producers required to take back a
certain percentage of packaging materials
Duales System Deutschland (DSD) collects all the
packaging with a Green Dot
Licenses this symbol for the products they recycle
Reimbursement will be given to companies only
after recycling occurs and quotas are met