It’s a strange twist that efforts to heal the sick and make people healthier can create waste products that harm others. Hospitals generate medical waste that, if not processed properly, can harm those exposed to it. One of the most dangerous types of medical waster are “sharps.” These include used syringes and scalpels. As the name implies, sharps can cut or puncture the person handling them. The numbers are alarming: the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 40% of hepatitis cases and 12% of HIV cases worldwide are caused by occupational exposure.Hospitals also produce small amounts of chemical, pharmaceutical, and radioactive waste which requiring special handling. Add to this pile the large amounts of ordinary garbage such as food wrappers and utensils, which can make up 80% of the waste stream. A larger hospital can produce up to a ton of waster everyday.Know where that waste...
