Gotcha!
The illicit disposal of untreated clinical wastes from hospitals and clinics by insecure landfil or direct sale to scavengers and others involved in the recycling and recovery of items for re-use that […]
public health
Dumping of clinical wastes
After the news item concerning alleged dumping of clinical wastes in the River Yare in Norfolk, there is news of a much more serious incident in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. Community-based Environmental […]
Dem bones, dem dry bones
With echoes of that traditional spiritual song by African-American author James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938) it is reported in the Wexford People that a Wexford man expresses concern over the nature […]
NICE clinical guideline – primary and community care (waste management)
The National Clinical Guideline Centre has released its latest and probably last draft of its document “Infection: prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections in primary and community care” for pre-publication […]
Out-of-hospital care generates extra clinical waste in the community
It is several years ago that the Clinical Waste Discussion Forum predicted a substantial increase in community-based care with patients managed for an increasing complex range of conditions at local clinics […]
Infections and infectious waste
It’s that time of year again, and most regions are reporting massive increases in winter vomiting (Norovirus) virus outbreaks. Norovirus is a particularly infectious agent. It is transmitted directly from person to person […]
US abandons toxic burn pits as it withdraws from Iraq and Afghanistan
As the US completes its withdrawal from Iraq and begins to draw down in Afghanistan, the American military, pursuant to what is claimed to be its “pollute and run” policy, is abandoning […]
Malta incinerator open for public viewing
There is a long and troubled history surrounding the disposal of clinical and other waste in Malta. With repeated suggestions of corruption, of dubious ‘experts’ basing their advice more on hospitality […]
Managing drug abuse and associated litter – Australia
Managing IV drug abuse and its associated drug litter is an almost impossible task. Requiring the involvement of many different agencies, the solutions are impossible to identify and in general […]
USAID study, Namibia
USAID has published a resume of result from an interventional study of waste management in Namibia. Make your own minds up. Though a massive improvement in standards is claimed, from only […]
Including waste management in service planning
It often seems that waste management is a last minute add-in to most management plans. An irritating afterthought which sits uncomfortably with established operations, planning of new or reconfigured services […]
Public sector services dispute and clinical waste collections
The public sector service industrial action on Wednesday will disrupt many services. Waste collections will be included among these disruptions and where clinical waste collections from domestic premises and other […]
Managing Norovirus infection wastes
New guidelines are hot off the press regarding the management of Norovirus infection in acute and community health and social care settings. Those guidelines, prepared after collaboration between the British […]
Novel contraption for Vietnam clinical wastes
A clinical waste incinerator built by a local farmer may not be totally efficient and pollution free but it’s churning through waste that was otherwise dangerous and time consuming to […]
What made Milwaukee famous?
Well, the song was good, but the Schlitz beer that made Milwaukee famous was undoubtedly preferable to a day spent on Milwaukees Lake Michigan beaches! Environmental groups report, once again, substantial […]
Acknowledging adverse health effects of military burn pits
Legislation introduced in the House would require the Veterans Affairs Department to create a register for veterans who have health problems they believe are related to exposure to open-air burn […]
Hepatitis B virus infection among medical waste handlers in Addis Ababa
Hepatitis B virus infection among medical waste handlers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is a real problem. In a detailed research paper from that country, the incidence of Hepatitis B was […]
Community pharma waste collection schemes
We make no apology for repeating on the Clinical Waste Discussion Forum, yet again, the news of community hazardous household waste collections schemes operating in the US. Although there are some […]
It’s all your fault!
Who is responsible for pharmaceutical wastes? For high costs of supply crippling NHS budgets? For drug residues in the environment? Well, if you live in NE Scotland, it’s probably yours. […]
Illicit salvage for re-use
Reduce, reuse, recycle. It seems sensible but in many countries the reality is of illicit salvage of items from clinical wastes followed by repackaging (of sorts) and reuse, all without […]
Oxford drug litter
Just beyond sight of the academic and commercial heart of Oxford, drug abuse has come very dramatically to the surface manifest by many used syringes and needles being discarded under a […]
Vietnam struggles with medical waste disposal infrastructure
More than half of the medical waste incinerators in Vietnam have been left unused because their owners do not have money to pay for fuel and maintenance. Especially, they still do […]
Medicine drop boxes
Medicine drop boxes may be a practical option for the disposal of unwanted medicinal products. Sited in convenient locations, they would receive prescription and non-prescription products removing wastes accumulating in […]
More clinical waste on US beaches
It seems to be a particular affliction for American beaches, that so often they suffer from clinical and related wastes washed up on the tide. This time it’s Slaughter Beach […]
Superbugs escape through hospital sewers
Antibiotic-resistant pathogens born in hospitals may enter the wider environment through the facilities’ sewers, although the magnitude of the danger remains unclear. A team from the Federal University of Saõ […]
Wastewater treatment to remove pharma residues
The removal of pharma residues from waste treatment process waters or more generally from wastewaters from hospitals and nursing homes, from intensive agricultural facilities and perhaps even from community wastewater […]
Waste spill
A tractor trailer carrying liquid low grade radioactive medical waste swerved to avoid hitting a car and struck the guardrail near Riverside Parkway, Cobb County, Georgia and overturned just before midnight Monday. […]
Medical waste closes 8 Long Island beaches
Eight Long Island beaches have closed after medical waste washed ashore. Dozens of needles, syringes, pill bottles and other medical wastes were found by lifeguards. Last updated: Thursday, October 11, […]
What is the root cause?
Seeking the root cause of failures in the safe management of potentially hazardous wastes in resource-poor countries can, at time, be particularly tricky. Simple lack of material resources and a lack, […]
Cocaine levels in Antwerp’s waste water the highest in Europe
The Belgian city of Antwerp’s waste water contains the highest cocaine levels of 21 European cities measured, pipping London and Amsterdam, media quoted new research as showing today. According to the […]