3. Environment
• Disposal of untreated health care wastes can
cause pollution
• Treatment of HCW with chemical disinfectants
can result to release of chemical substances
in environment
• Inadequate incineration and incineration of
unsuitable materials can result to pollution
• Only modern incinerators operating at 850-
1100 degree Celsius fitted with gas-cleaning
equipment are able to comply with the
international
• Alternative options can be used such as
autoclaving, microwaving, steam treatment
minimizes hazards
4. Public
Health
• HCW has negative impact on health-
care workers, waste handlers and
the community to infections, toxic
effects and injuries including damage
of the environment
• Enhance opportunities for the
collection of disposable medical
equipment, its re-sale and potential
re-use without sterilization
6. Types
of
Hazards
Hazards from infectious waste and
sharps
Hazards from chemical and
pharmaceutical waste
Hazards from genotoxic waste
Hazards from radioactive waste
Public sensitivity
7. Risk Related to HCW
HCW is hazardous for:
• Medical doctors, nurses, health-care
auxiliaries, hospital maintenance
personnel
• Patient in health care establishment
• Visitors to health care establishment
• Workers in support system; laundry
personnel, waste handling and
transportation
• Workers in waste disposal facilities such
as land fills or incinerators including
scavengers
8. Treatment and Disposal technologies for HCW
Incineration:
• It converts combustible
materials into noncombustible
residue or ash.
• Pre-treatment is not required
• Gases are ventilated through the incinerator stacks, and
the residue or ash is disposed of in a sanitary landfill.
• It has various health hazard, its use is limited and when
used is handle cautiously.
10. Chemical disinfections
are the preferred
treatment for liquid
infectious wastes, but
it can also be used in
treating solid infectious
waste.
11. Wet thermal treatment:
• Based on exposure of
shredded infectious waste to
high temperature, high
pressure steam, and
• Process is similar to
autoclave process
12. Screw-feed technology:
•Dry thermal disinfection
process
•Waste shredded- rotating auger-
heated
•The weight is reduced by
80% in volume and by 35%
in weight..
Wet and dry thermal
treatment:
13. Microwave irradiation:
•Microwave of frequency-2450 MHz,
wavelength-
12.24 nm
•Water present in the waste is heated by
microwave
•Mechanism of disinfection is by heat
conduction
14. Land disposal:
•Acceptable route of disposal
•Two types:
Open dumps
Sanitary landfills
Advantages of sanitary landfills over open dumps
Geological isolation of waste
Appropriate engineering preparation
Organized deposit
Daily coverage of waste