26
WASTE MANAGEMENT
“Ultimately, the objective of managing any waste
appropriately is to ensure that pollution of air, land and
water does not occur and that the life, health, welfare
and well-being of people, flora and fauna are preserved
and not exposed to unnecessary physical, biological or
chemical hazards and any consequential risks.”
The following photographs illustrate some dialysis
waste that has been identified in domestic waste
at a Materials Recovery Facility. This represents
what was identified in one vehicle load from a
New South Wales metropolitan council.
indicates that this is still possible. This viewpoint
by the WHO, that non-sharp clinical and related
waste can also cause disease or injury, is further
supported in subsequent publications.
Another study examining pathogens in landfills,
has indicated that the risk from scavengers/
vermin (birds and rats), distributing biohazardous
waste containing pathogens is a real risk2, and
food could be contaminated as a consequence.
The author of this study also states that if a
specific micro-organism is found in biohazardous
waste located in a landfill, it would be difficult to
determine if the organism arrived with the waste,
or was already at the landfill.
The literature is very clear over the types of
pathogens, but less clear on all modes of
transmission and the potential impact(s) from
landfilling this waste untreated. Landfills, transfer
stations, Materials Recovery Facilities and
waste transporters are all reporting increased
observation of sharps and needle stick injuries.
Disease transmission is difficult to prove due to
the many variables.
Dialysis waste identified in domestic waste from
a NSW metropolitan council.
The prime hazards of biohazardous waste apart from
the obvious physical injury of needlestick injuries
relates to both the microbiological and chemical
components that can be in the waste stream.
A sample of clinical waste potentially contains:
Infectious agents – a great variety of pathogenic
micro-organisms (bacteria and viruses);
The lack of definitive literature on the public
health and environmental risks associated
with disposal of untreated biohazardous
wastes to landfill also supports the call that
the precautionary principle be followed and
not allow untreated biohazardous waste to
be disposed of to landfill until studies prove/
disprove the risks.
There are identified hazards associated with
the contents and management aspects of
biohazardous waste. There are, however,
differing views in regards to the existence of
these hazards and the probability of them
resulting in negative impacts.
Sharps.
There is also the public perception of the risks
assoc X]Y