WASTE MANAGEMENT
may vary. The only exception is with the definition
for biohazardous waste. A common definition
would enable consistency in understanding this
waste stream and in implementing appropriate
management solutions to protect the waste handlers,
community and environment.
The second point would be for local government
to review and subsequently adopt the Code of
Practice as the document that should be adhered to,
to ensure safe and effective — environmentally and
economically — management of biohazardous wastes.
It is not to suggest that local government should
be providing the service for collection and
subsequent treatment/disposal of biohazardous
waste, but more to act as a conduit by assisting
those providing home healthcare, or patients, to
access a viable system to ensure that such wastes
do not enter the domestic waste stream and place
others at risk.
Options for the management of hazardous
wastes by government and industry are generally
determined by the following criteria:
a. The quantity, nature and types of waste generated;
b. Their appropriate treatment (including recycling)
and disposal; and,
c. The type and capacity of the receiving
environment (air, water, land) to assimilate
wastes so that pollution does not occur.
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. This must occur with
biohazardous waste.
References:
1. For this article, the term “biohazardous waste”
has been used to cover items such as “medical
waste” and “clinical waste”, but acknowledges
that the scope is broader and includes wastes
with similar characteristics that are increasingly
being generated outside of healthcare activities.
Trevor Thornton has been involved
in healthcare waste management for
over 25 years. He commenced with
at EPA Victoria where he established
Victoria’s strategic approach to
healthcare waste management as
well as being the Local Government
Liaison Officer. Following this Trevor
joined Deakin University as a lecturer
in Hazardous Materials Management.
Trevor completed a Doctorate in
Clinical Waste Management in 1997.
Trevor has conducted many waste
audits at healthcare facilities leading
to the development of sustainable
waste management strategies. He
has also undertaken many projects
to identify strategic approaches to
healthcare waste management for
government agencies throughout
Australia and overseas. Due to his
expertise and experience, Trevor sits
on a number of Standards Australia
committees and advises government
agencies on aspects related to
healthcare waste management.
The Biohazardous Waste Indu