How Much Medical Waste Is Recycled?
4/19/2022
Hospitals and other health-related institutions produce medical waste every day. In fact, it is estimated that there are 2 million tons of medical waste worldwide every year. With this huge amount, proper disposal would be difficult to implement.
Because of this, one way to remedy this issue is by recycling some of these wastes. However, not all medical wastes are possible for recycling.
The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that some medical waste threatens human health by generating carcinogenic substances.
Possible Wastes for Recycling
According to WHO, 85% of the medical wastes produced are considered non-infectious, which means a big part can be recycled. One example of these types of waste is surgical waste.
In one study conducted by Pfiedler, they found that 23% of these surgical wastes are suitable for recycling. These include single-use items during operations, such as IV bags.
Many organizations are continuously looking for better ways to increase the number of medical waste that can be recycled. For instance, proper segregation of waste in containers helps them identify items for recycling more easily.
On the other hand, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that some medical institutions lack the training of proper waste disposal. As a result, they need to focus on addressing this problem to prevent further environmental damage.
Conclusion
Recycling medical waste is necessary to reduce waste pollution that affects the environment. Developing methods to increase the recycling process should be prioritized with everyone’s involvement.
Because of this, one way to remedy this issue is by recycling some of these wastes. However, not all medical wastes are possible for recycling.
The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that some medical waste threatens human health by generating carcinogenic substances.
Possible Wastes for Recycling
According to WHO, 85% of the medical wastes produced are considered non-infectious, which means a big part can be recycled. One example of these types of waste is surgical waste.
In one study conducted by Pfiedler, they found that 23% of these surgical wastes are suitable for recycling. These include single-use items during operations, such as IV bags.
Ways to Increase Recycling of Medical Wastes
On the other hand, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that some medical institutions lack the training of proper waste disposal. As a result, they need to focus on addressing this problem to prevent further environmental damage.
Conclusion
Recycling medical waste is necessary to reduce waste pollution that affects the environment. Developing methods to increase the recycling process should be prioritized with everyone’s involvement.