DISPOSING OF OUR MEDICAL WASTE
MEDICAL WASTE is defined by the National Medical Waste Policy for Jamaica as solid waste that is generated in the diagnosis, treatment or immunisation of human beings or animals. It also includes such items generated in research or in the production or testing of biologicals, including but not limited to: soiled, or blood soaked bandages, culture dishes and other glassware and discarded surgical gloves. Importantly, at least 20 per cent of medical (solid) waste is considered to be infectious, toxic, or radioactive.
Tameka Clough and Kurt Noble of the National Environment Planning Agency (NEPA), indicate that, "Proper disposal of waste materials, in particular biomedical wastes, ensures that exposure to their harmful effects are minimised."
In fact, Clough and Noble, who were a part of a four-member Jamaican team, which visited St. Lucia to observe the treatment of medical waste, are confident that the acquisition of new technology will boost Jamaica's abilities in this area. They said that Jamaica stood to accrue maximum benefits from use of an active medical waste management system that includes the use of Autoclave Shredder technology for the treatment of biomedical waste.
The Autoclave technology is a sterilisation process that renders micro-organisms inactive after being exposed to high temperature. The shredding component of the system is a size reduction operation that breaks down wastes into smaller pieces, providing the autoclave with a larger surface area to make the waste more penetrable by the heat. The net effect of this is inactivated waste at a volume reduction of 80 per cent. When compared to incinerators, using the shredder to dispose of medical wastes is a more cost-effective method.
Traditionally, the preferred option for treating medical waste in Jamaica is by incineration. However, inefficiencies in operations, poor maintenance, inappropriate designs and increased air pollution, among other factors, have undermined the perceptions of incinerators as useful technology in this regard, in Jamaica.
NEPA encourages environmentally-friendly methods for the disposal of medical waste in both private and public health facilities.
- Contributed by the National Environment and Planning Agency, 'Managing and protecting Jamaica's land, wood and water'.
