Review : Legislative and Scientific Aspects of Waste Disposal in Hospitals

Abstract

Wastes produced by hospitals are variable in composition and categorisation. Clinical wastes constitute the potentially hazardous components of hospital wastes, and their management and disposal have generated much attention both from environmental regulatory bodies and the public. In the UK, the stimulus for stricter environmental regulation of waste of this type has come from the European Union. The current trend in environmental regulation shows incineration as an increasingly favoured method for clinical waste dis posal within the Union. In addition to stricter legislation and standards regarding hazardous waste disposal in the European Union and the UK, changes within the pharmaceutical industry are also expected to affect clinical waste disposal in the future. Furthermore, more collaboration between waste management authorities, professionals and healthcare institutions is envis aged for the future. Such collaboration together with a system where members of the public are allowed an insight into the review procedures and environ mental protection systems of establishments involved in clinical waste man agement may be beneficial in achieving a meaningful evaluation of perfor mance of such establishments in achieving public and environmental safety. This paper reviews some of the legislative and scientific aspects of clinical waste disposal within the UK.