16 - Biological waste disposal

Abstract

In the recent years, the management and disposal of medical and other hospital wastes are of global concern in developed and developing countries because of the technological and economic difficulties and lack of proper training during the handling of these wastes. The hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, rehab centers, and other medical places where diagnosis, treatment, and care are conducted produce a lot of biological wastes that are highly hazardous and bring major concerns and challenges. The staff involved in the handling of these hazardous wastes will often be at greater risk than others due to less education and training. Proper management of hospital waste protects hospital staff, the public, and the local environment. This chapter presents the various medical wastes, medical waste management regulatory acts, new technologies for the disposal and control of infectious biological waste, and its potential risks associated with medical waste management to the environment and human beings. Any social and economic issues related to the biological waste while using various management methods were discussed. People involved in this management must be well trained and they should be aware of consequences if they fail to do so. There is a need for strict compliance to stipulated rules that apply to the generation, collection, storage, transportation, treatment, disposal, and handling of medical waste. The contents discussed in this chapter served as supplementary materials for the healthcare industry in terms of biological waste management and handling as well as educating and training medical students (medicine, pharmacy, nursing, physical therapy, etc.) and staff.