Healthcare Waste: Types and Disposal Methods

In Italy, approximately 1,000 tons of hazardous healthcare waste are produced daily, and these are not always managed and disposed of properly. This issue mirrors findings from a 2015 UNICEF and WHO study, which showed that 58% of facilities in 24 countries sampled failed to manage waste adequately. Hence, it is increasingly important for professionals to identify and handle various types of waste correctly.
The management and disposal of healthcare waste in Italy are governed by DPR 254/03, aimed at protecting the environment, public health, and ensuring effective controls.

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THE SERVICE

The Importance of Proper Waste Management in the Disposal Process

  1. Training for waste management personnel (OSS);
  2. Consulting and support for administrative compliance (c/s logs; FIR; MUD);
  3. Loading, transportation, and disposal/recovery of waste generated by facilities;
  4. Management, consultancy, and support for any internal collection centers within facilities;
  5. Analysis and classification with identification of CER codes for waste generated by the facility;
  6. Consultancy and support in certification processes.

PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF HEALTHCARE AND OTHER WASTES

How to Implement a Cost-Effective Waste Segregation Management

Regardless of your industry—whether it generates healthcare waste, plastic, or cardboard packaging—you can reduce costs, ensure safety, and protect the environment. Here are some practical solutions to optimize waste treatment processes in your business:

  • Waste compaction: Reduce waste volume and management costs. Streamline internal processes, minimize risks, boost productivity, and reduce the frequency of waste collection.
  • Sterilization of infectious healthcare waste: Contain the risk of infectious healthcare waste by sterilizing and storing it in dedicated vacuum-sealed bags. You can also disinfect personal protective equipment (PPE), such as FFP1, FFP2, and FFP3 masks, to prepare them for reuse and reduce waste.
  • Vacuum-sealing and sterilization of waste: In any context, from healthcare to offshore, you can sterilize and vacuum-seal non-sharp waste, such as gauze, masks, gloves, shoe covers, incontinence pads, and even organic waste. Why not adopt this method?
  • Composting waste: Whether you run a restaurant, supermarket, or a kitchen within a healthcare facility, you can cut management costs by processing organic waste onsite. Explore how a composting machine works and ensure proper recycling of organic waste at its source.

These are just some of the practical steps you can take immediately for a cost-effective waste segregation strategy. There are products and strategies for every type of waste and workplace context. Ignoring them means wasting economic resources.