Modelling, Composition and production rate of medical solid waste in Tikrit: A case study of Tikrit Teaching Hospital (TTH) in Iraq

Abstract

Tikrit Teaching Hospital (TTH), Tikrit, Iraq, was selected for investigation as a case study. Data collection was carried out during TTH visits and by questionnaires. Sampling was performed during a 10-month period, one week each sampling month. The medical waste analyzed was comprised of 63.04% general waste (non-risk) and 36.96% hazardous waste. The results indicated that the medical waste generation rate is 0.9 kg/bed.day and 0.75 kg/patient.day. Statistically significant linear correlations were established between the daily production of medical solid waste and the respective number of patients and the occupied beds in TTH as whole. Based on the average daily production of medical solid waste produced by the departments of TTH (kg /d), the larger producer of general medical solid waste was obstetric department with average daily production of 25 kg/d, while the larger producer of hazardous medical solid waste was obstetric department with average daily production of 11 kg/d. The average specific weight of total medical waste, general waste, and hazardous waste were determined to be 218.6, 206.5 and 225.54 kg/m3, respectively. The average moisture content of total medical waste, general waste, and hazardous waste were determined to be 21, 20.4 and 23.4 %, respectively. The average general medical waste composition was: 40% organics, 21% plastics, 19% paper, 11% glass and 9% metals. Pathological wastes and sharp objects comprised 43% and 25% of the hazardous medical waste components.