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| ISSUE:
The transport and disposal of medical wastes |
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| The safe transport and
disposal of medical wastes is a key issue. Health risks and community concerns have
resulted from the illegal dumping of medical wastes. |
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| There has been an
increase in the generation of medical waste due to urbanization and rapid urban growth.
The high financial cost s of medical waste incineration results in illegal dumping. |
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| The total quantity of
medical waste currently incinerated in the CMA is estimated at 1700 t/a. This is
approximately a third of all medical waste generated. There
are two medical waste incinerators in the CMA currently permitted by the Department of
Environmental Affairs and Tourism. The Enviroserv incinerator at Vissershok and a smaller
one at Delft operated by BCL. The former incineration facility has the capacity to burn
approximately 1680 to 1920 t/a and currently receives 1 200 t/a. Other medical waste
incinerators are linked to hospitals and burn about 500 t/a.
The biggest generators of medical waste are the Provincial
hospitals with a monthly average of 4871kg per hospital, comprising 69% of medical waste
generated in the Metropolitan Region. The total amount of medical waste generated from
Provincial hospitals in the Metropolitan Region is estimated at 139 182kg per month.
It is estimated that private hospitals in the CMA generate 72
660kg per month.
An estimated 30% of medical waste generated is not disposed of at
the two permitted medical waste incinerators.
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The following indicators
are monitored by the Directorate: Protection, Health and Trading, CMC:
- Volume of waste received at the incineration facilities (t/a).
- Volume of medical waste received at the incinerators as a
percentage of estimated medical waste generated.
See a summary of all
Indicators on this website
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The following response
is underway by the CMC:
- An Integrated Waste Management Project is being undertaken in
support of the National Waste Management Strategy. A Solid Waste Feasibility Study is
currently underway.
The CMC is also participating in the following initiative:
- The establishment of a state-of-the-art private medical waste
incinerator on Council-owned land at Vissershok.
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- Do not throw medical waste (e.g.
needles) into your bin. Take this waste to hospitals, clinics or surgeries for safe
disposal.
- Report any dumped medical waste to
your local authority.
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