Medical Waste Incineration for Developing Countries – Taking the Next Step

There has been a lot of negative press in recent years concerning the incineration of medical waste. Safe medical waste disposal is a concern in every country, but this problem is often far more severe in developing countries. Is the incineration of medical waste safe?

The question deserves more than just a simple yes or no answer. In 2002, the World Health Organization (WHO) assessed that in 22 separate developing countries, the number of healthcare facilities that did not practice proper waste disposal methods ranged from 18 to 64%. WHO estimates that injections with contaminated syringes caused 21 million cases of hepatitis B, two million cases of hepatitis C, and at least 260,000 HIV infections.

It happens because contaminated injection equipment is often scavenged from medical waste dumpsites before being repackaged, sold, and reused. Health risks from improperly disposed hazardous waste pose serious occupational hazards to health workers and waste handlers.

For these reasons, developing countries have sought alternative means of waste disposal other than storing, burning, or burying. The appeal of incinerating medical waste becomes readily apparent, but the process has drawn criticism in recent years.

Much of the growing concern with medical waste incineration deals with potential exposure to harmful substances such as dioxins, furans, and other air pollutants that can be a product of emissions or contained in the ash left over when the process is complete.

These harmful chemicals are produced as by-products when wastes containing plastics, such as blood or fluid bags, are incinerated at temperatures lower than 800 degrees Celsius, according to WHO. These substances create the most problems for humans when they accumulate within the food chain and are ingested.

For these reasons, more developing countries are creating stricter guidelines for burning medical waste, including “red bag” waste, sharps waste, and hazardous Type 4 pathological waste such as Ebola virus and coronavirus.

What all of this means is that safe medical waste disposal can include incineration, but it is vital that the incinerator function at optimal levels. Medical facilities can accomplish this with effective monitoring and maintenance of the system, proper ash disposal, and accurate record keeping. These records will also be necessary to provide an inspector when health authorities conduct inspections of the incinerator.

Says WHO, “Optimization of the incineration process can reduce the formation of these substances by, for example, ensuring that incineration takes place only at temperatures above 800°C, and that flue gas temperatures in the range of 250°C to 450°C are avoided.”

In South America, medical waste incinerators are making a difference. Clinics and hospitals that just a few years ago either buried or burned their medical waste are now utilizing the benefits of incinerators to help them take the next step toward better health.

“Incinerators provide an interim solution, especially for developing countries…,” says WHO, adding that best practices must be used to ensure the optimal operation of the incineration system.

Other locations benefiting from medical waste incinerators include New Zealand, Australia, and Southeast Asia. Because modern incinerators are custom-engineered, they can burn various fuels, are easy to operate, and can be cleaned and maintained by someone without prior operational experience.

The most crucial step for a medical clinic or hospital interested in using an incinerator is to work with a reputable company to configure an incinerator that meets their requirements. They should be able to conform to any country’s laws by equipping the unit with regulators monitoring its performance. They should also be willing to offer guidance in the proper care for the units that they sell.

Other issues must be addressed by any user of a medical waste incinerator. The most important thing is proper waste segregation and minimizing the risk of human exposure to harmful substances by locating the units away from heavily populated areas.

Proper waste segregation will ensure that only appropriate wastes are incinerated. Modern incinerators are designed to incinerate sharps, red bag, and Type 4 pathological waste.

While there is adequate reason for concern regarding the use of incinerators, the benefits for developing countries far outweigh the negatives when safety considerations are used.

Working with the team at Northwest Industrial Equipment, you could start using your new, fully compliant incinerator within 60 days.

Contact us today to talk with an incineration specialist about your medical waste incineration needs.