The Challenge of Medical Waste Management: A Case Study in Alborz Province, Iran

Type Journal Article - Acta Velit
Title The Challenge of Medical Waste Management: A Case Study in Alborz Province, Iran
Author(s)
Volume 1
Issue 3
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2015
Page numbers 70-79
URL http://www.actavelit.com/issues/volume1/issue3/FINAL 10.pdf
Abstract
In developing countries such as Iran, medical wastes are not properly managed. Appropriate medical
waste management decreases the risk of spreading infections, environmental hazards and public health risks. In
recent years, environmental regulatory agencies and waste producers have tried to reach appropriate medical
waste management plans. In this study, different aspects of the current status of medical waste management
such as generation, segregation and collection, storage, treatment, training and education and sewage were
investigated in Alborz province. Standard questionnaire based on World Health Organization applied for
gathering information. Questionnaire consisted of seven sections, such as general information of hospital, waste
generation, separation, collection, temporary storage location, waste management workshop for workers and
personnel and sewage status of hospitals. Medical waste management in Alborz province were compared with
enacted law in Iran and other similar studies. The results showed that the average occupancy percentage of each
bed in Alborz province hospitals was 76.78%.The average generation rate of total waste was 4.05 kg/ bed-day.
The generation rates of hazardous-infectious wastes, general wastes and sharp wastes were 2.26, 1.72 and 0.016
kg/bed-day, respectively. All hospitals had a location for their waste temporary storage and most of those
(78.5%) treated their wastes, especially with autoclaving. In compare with enacted law and other studies, the
current system of medical waste management in Alborz province is in a proper situation but it needs further
improvement.

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