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
hospitals 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 Coding

Waste Type

Risk waste

Sharps

Non Risk
Waste

Color

Yellow

Yellow

Black

Characteristics

Strong and leak

proof

Purpose
Strong and tear
designed,
resistant
penetration and
leakage
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 waste
v. Green: Chemicals like Mercury & Cadmium

Other considerations
Waste Transportation
Waste Storage
Waste Disposal

Waste Disposal
Treatment
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