This document provides an overview of healthcare waste management. It defines healthcare waste and identifies the main types, which include general non-hazardous waste, hazardous infectious waste, sharps, and other special categories. The key steps in management are outlined as waste minimization, segregation, handling, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal. Proper management through these steps is important for reducing healthcare-associated infections and creating a safe environment.

1. Overview of Healthcare Waste
Management
By Moses O

2. Objectives
At the end of this session, the participants will be able to:
• Define healthcare waste
• Identify different types of waste in a healthcare
setting
• Identify key steps in healthcare waste management

3. Introduction
According to the WHO:
• Of the total amount of waste generated by healthcare activities,
about 85% of it is general, non-hazardous waste
• The remaining 15% is considered hazardous material, that may
be infectious, toxic or radioactive
• Annually an estimated 16 billion injections are administered
worldwide, but not all of the needles and syringes are properly
disposed of afterwards.
• Healthcare waste contains potentially harmful microorganisms
which can infect hospital patients, health-care workers and the
general public.

4. Healthcare Waste
Health Care Waste includes all the waste generated by
healthcare facilities, research facilities, and laboratories
related to healthcare services

5. Safe Waste Management
• Reduces risk of healthcare-associated infections (HAI)
• Reduces risk of injury
• Creates clean and safe workplaces in the healthcare facilities
• Reduces waste-related odours and attraction for vermin
• Clean and well protected environment (soil, water, and air)

6. Healthcare Waste Management
All staff have a responsibility to dispose of healthcare
waste in a manner that poses minimal hazard to patients,
visitors, other healthcare workers, and the community.

7. Categories of Waste: Non-hazardous
Non-hazardous waste comprises of:
• General waste which has not been mixed with any
infectious material
• Examples
o Paper, boxes, bottles, and plastic containers
o PPE that is not contaminated with bodily fluids or from
an isolation area

8. Categories of Waste: Hazardous
Hazardous waste comprises of:
• Sharps (needles)
• Infectious (items contaminated with body fluids)
• Pathological (human tissue, placentas)
• Pharmaceutical (medications)
• Chemical (lab reagents, disinfectants)
• Radioactive (unused radiation liquids, urine from radiation
patient

9. Key Steps in Waste Management
• Waste minimization
• Segregation (separation)
• Handling and Storage
• Collection
• Transportation
• Treatment
• Disposal

10. Waste Minimization
• Occurs prior to the production of waste
• Aims at reducing waste as much as possible by
o Establishing efficient purchasing policy
o Ensuring good stock management

11. Waste Segregation
• Waste should be segregated at point of generation
by ALL health care workers
• Waste should be segregated in the correct color
coded bins based on their potential hazard
• Reduces hospital costs if segregated properly

13. Waste Bins
• The bin must be sufficiently large to contain the types of waste
generated.
o Bins that are too large are difficult to handle
o Bins that are too small increases frequency of handling of waste
• Bin liners must fit the bin and be leak proof.
• If no bin liners, bins must be cleaned and disinfected using
0.5% chlorine after disposal of waste and before re-use.
• This must be done AWAY from the patient care area

14. Sharps Waste
Sharps are items that can cause cuts or puncture
wounds, including:
o Needles
o Hypodermic needles
o Scalpel and other blades
o Knives
o Infusion sets
o Saws
o Broken glass
o Pipettes

15. Sharps Waste (cont.)
• Do not recap needles
• Do not collect syringes for later
disposal
• Do not overfill
• Fill the sharps container only once
and then destroy

16. Waste Handling
• Always wear personal protective equipment
o A minimum of gloves, heavy duty apron and boots
• Maintain segregation patterns and NEVER re-sort waste
• Keep written records of the quantities received and treated
• Collect and remove waste daily from healthcare settings.

17. Waste Storage
• Designate an area/room within the health facility for
holding the waste containers
• Storage time must not exceed 24 hours
• Mark storage areas with the biohazard symbol

18. Waste Storage Requirements
• Waste must be stored in a secure location
o To restrict access of unauthorized persons
o To secure against scavengers
• Waste must be sheltered from weather (e.g., rain)
• Storage area should be easily accessible from all points
of waste generation.

19. Transporting to Treatment/Disposal
Site
• All bins and bags must be closed/lids in place when carried
• Bins must not touch the body of carrier
• On site transport
o Wheel barrow, trolley, cart, etc.
o If by hands, bags must always be carried by their top and
not by sides
• Transport each waste category separately

20. Precautions during transport:
• Keep boxes upright
• Avoid direct contact of sharps containers with other
waste or medical supplies in the same vehicle
• Keep sharps containers/boxes dry
• After transport, clean vehicle surfaces
Transporting to Treatment/Disposal
Site

21. Transfer Station
• The size of transfer station should match the waste
quantities generated.
• Should be close to waste production sites
• Should be inaccessible to unauthorized persons.
• It should be cleaned and disinfected immediately after
removal operations.

22. • Incineration
o Can range from extremely sophisticated to very basic
o It provides high temperatures and destroys
microorganisms.
o It also reduces the volume of waste to be buried
Treatment of Infectious Waste

23. Incineration
• The following waste should not be incinerated:
o Pressurized gas containers (aerosol cans)
o Large amounts of reactive chemical waste
o Silver salts and photographic or radiographic wastes
o Plastic containing polyvinyl chloride (blood bags, IV sets,
or disposable syringes)
o Waste containing high mercury or cadmium content, for
example, broken thermometers, used batteries, and lead-
lined wooden panels

24. Treatment of Infectious Waste (cont.)
• Autoclaving and shredding
o Operated according to manufacturer's instructions
o Must comply with recommended time, pressure and
temperature
• Chemical Disinfection
o Kills microorganisms in healthcare waste
 Most suitable for treating liquid waste such as urine, blood, stools
 Also can be used in highly hazardous waste like cultures and
sharps

25. Infrastructure

26. Discussion
• How does your facility handle infectious waste?
• What types of personal protective equipment are used
in the management of infectious waste in your
facility? What PPE is available?

27. Summary
• Unsafe waste management practices can result to
serious injuries including death and disability
• Healthcare waste is a risk
• Identify waste management process that present a
significant risk and employ interventions as
appropriate.

28. Thank You
Questions ?