Main Resource
Resource first published on October 4, 2013.
Health care services generate millions of tons of medical waste each year including hazardous (syringes, needles, sharps, pathology specimens etc) and non hazardous waste. In many developing countries medical waste is poorly managed with minimal segregation, poor handling and disposal through the municipal waste system or low temperature incineration. Scavenging by wastepickers for resale and re-use is a major problem. Low temperature incineration releases dioxins, mercury, cadmium and other toxic substances. In 2004 the Stockholm Convention on Persisting Organic Pollutants recommended the phasing out of incineration technology (old technology) and the phasing in of non-incineration technologies such as auotclaves (new technology). In the USA medical waste incinerators have been closed down over the past ten years. In developing countries, old technology is still being funded by aid programs and installed.