Hospital Waste Management

Dr Nosheen Zehra

Definition• According to Bio-Medical Waste

Rules;“Total waste generated by hospitals,

healthcare establishments and research facilities in the diagnosis, treatment, immunization and associated research

Healthcare Waste Characterization

Healthcare Waste

Non risk Waste (75 -90 %)

Risk Waste (10 -25 %)

Non Risk Waste• Paper and cardboard• Packaging• Food waste• Aerosols

Situation Analysis

Studies in Pakistan show that large hospital’s generate 2.0 kg of waste, per bed per day. Of this, 0.5 kg can be categorized as biomedical risk waste

Situation Analysis• In Pakistan there are about 92,000 beds in public sector

hospitals

• Pakistan –Population 160 million will rise to 250

million by year 2025

• Amount of Hospital Waste generated will increase to alarming rates due to growth of population and healthcare facilities

• No well established segregation system

• Frequent dumping of hospital waste with municipal waste

Healthcare Waste Legislations,Policies, Guidelines in South Asia

Healthcare Waste Legislation in South Asia

Risk from Waste

All persons exposed to hazardous hospital waste are potentially at risk which includes all those who either handle the waste at any stage, or are exposed to it as a consequence of careless management

HIV, Hepatitis B & C

Solution• Formation of a Waste Management

Team• Grounding the Waste Management

Plan

Responsibility for Waste Management

Waste Management Team of the Hospital/ Clinic/Lab shall be responsible to ensure proper management of the waste generated in the Hospital/ Clinic/ Lab

Duties & Responsibilities of WMT

• Preparation and Monitoring of Plan• Periodic Review• Revision or updating• Implementation of WMP• Compliance

Steps Involved

• Waste Segregation• Waste Collection• Waste Storage• Transportation• Disposal

Waste Segregation

• It is essential that risk waste is separated at source from non risk waste

• Segregation must take place at source• Must remain intact from the point of

production to the entire waste stream to the point of final disposal

Containers and Color CodingWaste Type Risk waste Sharps Non Risk Waste

Color Yellow Yellow Black

Characteristics Strong and leak proof

Purpose designed, penetration and leakage resistant

Strong and tear resistant

Designation Incineration or secure land fill

Incineration or secure land fill

landfill

Waste Segregation• Different color coding has to be assigned to

various waste for effective segregation, as:i. Black : Non-Risk waste.ii. Red: Risk waste with Sharps.iii. Blue: Risk Waste without sharps.iv. Yellow: Radioactive wastev. Green: Chemicals like Mercury & Cadmium

Other considerations• Waste Transportation• Waste Storage• Waste Disposal

Waste DisposalTreatment• Incineration• Chemical Disinfection• Autoclaving• Encapsulation• Microwave irradiation etc.,

Final Disposal• Landfill• Burying inside Premises• Discharge into Sewer etc.,

Lets the wastes of “the sick” not contaminate

the lives of “the healthy”