scholarly journals Toward Sustainable Environmental Management of Healthcare Waste: A Holistic Perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 5280
Author(s):  
Nouf Sahal Alharbi ◽  
Jawaher Haji Alhaji ◽  
Malak Yahia Qattan
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Healthcare Waste ◽  
Government Hospitals ◽  
Healthcare Waste Management ◽  
Multi Method Approach

The management of healthcare waste requires a sustained and holistic approach involving a range of parties. This is challenging for governments, especially in developing countries, where waste management systems have limited capacities for addressing the issue. Using Saudi Arabia as a case study, this paper followed a multi-method approach, including policy analysis, observation, semi-structured interviews, and a focus group, to explore the country’s healthcare waste management system. The study estimated that Saudi government hospitals across the country, every year, throw away in landfills paper (27,000 tons), plastic (15,000 tons), food (10,000 tons), glass (8000 tons), and metal (7000 tons). Regrettably, all these tons of materials end up in landfills without any form of recycling. A number of challenges were identified, reflecting mainly the lack of a legal framework, waste training, coordination among stakeholders, and social responsibility. This study generated new knowledge about waste management systems by exploring how their performance is shaped by the processes occurring at the policy, organization, and individual levels.

scholarly journals Assessment of Healthcare Waste Management Paradigms and Its Suitable Treatment Alternative: A Case Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Mehedi Hasan ◽  
M. Habibur Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Hazardous Waste ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Generation Rate ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Potential Hazard ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Healthcare Waste ◽  
Healthcare Waste Management

The management and treatment of healthcare waste (HCW) are of great concern owing to its potential hazard to human health and the environment, particularly in developing countries. Nowadays, various technological alternatives are gaining momentum as efficient and favorable waste management options across the world. However, selecting a suitable technology as well as an effective waste management approach for the treatment of HCW is still a challenging task for the municipal authorities. This study renders a comprehensive analysis of healthcare waste management (HCWM) practices and the technological options for its better management through a case study in Khulna, the southwestern division of Bangladesh. A number of healthcare establishments (HCEs) in the study area were selected and a questionnaire survey, as well as field investigations, was performed to find out the present status of HCWM and its limitations. An assessment of different technological alternatives was also carried out using Sustainability Assessment of Technologies (SAT) methodology which could pave the way for treating hazardous waste more efficiently in the Khulna metropolitan area. The study revealed that the overall HCW generation rate and hazardous HCW generation rate in Khulna city were 0.90 kg bed−1 day−1 and 0.18 kg bed−1 day−1, respectively. Assessment of management system revealed that 56% (n=38) of workers did not receive any form of training in the handling of hazardous waste. Around 54% (n=47) of them did not use any safety equipment or clothing. It has been found from the study that, among different technological alternatives based on the final score, incineration was the most suitable option for the treatment of hazardous waste in Khulna. Finally, some guidelines have been put forward to improve its existing management practices.

scholarly journals Healthcare Waste Management: A Case Study from Sudan

Environments ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. 89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Hassan ◽  
Terry Tudor ◽  
Mentore Vaccari
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Healthcare Waste ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Healthcare Waste Management ◽  
Treatment Technologies ◽  
Waste Segregation ◽  
Suitable Treatment

Healthcare waste (HCW) represents a major public health issue, especially in developing countries. Among HCW categories, sharps waste is one of the most hazardous. Exposure to needle-stick injuries can lead to blood-borne pathogens, therefore HCW should be managed in an effective manner. The main aims of this study were to assess the current management of used needles and to suggest suitable recommendations for an improved and safer system for needle management in Khartoum, Sudan. The study showed that the management of both healthcare and home-generated HCW in Sudan is inefficient, as all wastes are mixed together and disposed of improperly, especially used needles. The study attributes this to many reasons, including lack of waste segregation at the source, lack of policies, failure of planning, inadequate training, lack of awareness of the hazardous nature of such kinds of waste, weak infrastructure, and a lack of suitable treatment technologies. The estimated average generated rate of HCW ranged from 0.38 to 0.87 kg/bed/day in 2009 and 2012, respectively. Such ineffective healthcare waste management HCWM, especially used needles, can put public health as well as the environment at risk, particularly waste workers, thus urgent action needs to be taken by all involved parties and at all levels.

scholarly journals Waste management barriers in developing country hospitals: Case study and AHP analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego V de Godoy Delmonico ◽  
Hugo H dos Santos ◽  
Marco AP Pinheiro ◽  
Rosani de Castro ◽  
Regiane M de Souza
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
Healthcare Waste ◽  
Multi Criteria Evaluation ◽  
Healthcare Waste Management ◽  
Waste Management Practices ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy Process Method ◽  
Hierarchy Process

Healthcare waste management is an essential field for both researchers and practitioners. Although there have been few studies using statistical methods for its evaluation, it has been the subject of several studies in different contexts. Furthermore, the known precarious practices for waste management in developing countries raise questions about its potential barriers. This study aims to investigate the barriers in healthcare waste management and their relevance. For this purpose, this paper analyses waste management practices in two Brazilian hospitals by using case study and the Analytic Hierarchy Process method. The barriers were organized into three categories – human factors, management, and infrastructure, and the main findings suggest that cost and employee awareness were the most significant barriers. These results highlight the main barriers to more sustainable waste management, and provide an empirical basis for multi-criteria evaluation of the literature.

scholarly journals An Evaluation of Staff Engagement with Infectious Healthcare Waste Management Policies: A Case Study of Tunisia

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 1704
Author(s):  
Kaouther Maaroufi ◽  
Terry Tudor ◽  
Mentore Vaccari ◽  
Afef Siala ◽  
Ezzeddine Mahmoudi
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Training And Education ◽  
Healthcare Waste ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Healthcare Waste Management ◽  
Age Range ◽  
Staff Engagement

This study evaluated the engagement of staff regarding infectious healthcare waste management, in two case-study universities in Tunisia. Using a questionnaire survey, it was found that the most significant reported factors that influenced engagement were the availability of technical sheets and posters, training and education programs, and the age range of the staff. While there was some accordance with the Tunisian Decree application n° 2008–2745 of July 28th, 2008, as well as international guidelines and best practice (e.g. the use of color coded bins, waste management teams, and infection control measures), there were also limitations in the provision of training. This limitation in training and, to a lesser extent, awareness impacted on the beliefs about infectious healthcare waste management of staff and their practices. Recommendations for addressing these issues are suggested.

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