UTILIZE STRATEGIES OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IN MANAGING SANITARY REFUSE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

It involves the collection, transportation, treatment and disposal of waste in a way that minimizes health and environmental risks.

methods which are used;

Landfilling

Recycling

Compositing

Waste to energy processes

NB; efficient management ensures proper handling of waste to prevent pollution and promote public health.

Encompasses strategies and practices aimed at reducing, reusing, recycling and properly disposing of waste to minimize its impact on the environment.

It include implementing waste reduction programs, promoting recycling initiatives, adopting sustainable waste treatment technologies and enforcing regulations to ensure compliance with environmental standards.

The goal is to mitigate pollution, conserve resources, and promote ecological sustainability.

Waste: Any worthless material that is to be disposed of.

Wastes can be classified as either liquid or solid waste.

Hospital waste: Wastes from all types of health facilities, whether private or publically owned.

Health facilities can include health posts, dispensaries, health centres, hospitals, maternal waiting homes, physician offices, research institutes (animal and human health), homes (especially diabetic homes, and HIV and AIDS patients in homes) and specialized clinics.

Hazardous materials: Wastes which contain organic or inorganic elements that, due to their toxicological, physical, chemical, carcinogenic or those with persistency properties, may cause detrimental cumulative effects to humans, animals and other living organisms.

On-Site Treatment

This is applied by health facilities with adequate land space, particularly in rural settings

Options that can be used for onsite treatment include single or double chapter incinerators (De Montfort incinerator), burying and burning in a designated pit

Treatment such as autoclave, chemical disinfection and microwave irradiation are efficient techniques but they are basically pre-treatment methods which are capable of rendering small quantities of waste safe: however, the remains from such treatment require final treatment and disposal

Burning Pit

Width should be 1 to 2 metres

Pits shall be dug 1-2 metres wide and to depth of 2-5 metres, but at least 1.5 metres above the water table

The pit shall be fenced and located away from public areas

Burying

Burying is placing waste into a pit and covering it with earth

To build a waste burial pit, choose an appropriate site that is at least 50 metres away from any water source to prevent contamination of the source

Pits shall be dug 1-2 metres wide and to depth of 2-5 metres, but at least 1.5 metres above the water table

Keep waste covered, and every time waste is added to the pit, cover it with a 10 to 30 cm layer of soil

When the level of waste reaches to within 30 to 50 metres of the surface of the ground, fill the pit with soil and dig another pit

Expired vaccines shall be encapsulated and buried, and not burned

Incineration

Incineration is the deployment of high temperature in burning waste (starting at 800°C)

Incineration reduces the volume of the waste and eliminates pathogens

Large scale incinerators that can reach very high temperatures are preferred to small scale

For an incineration process to work properly, it must be accompanied by the following:

Clear operation procedures, which shall be posted near the incinerator

Trained operators

Reliable segregation system, so only infectious and non-polluting materials are incinerated

Reliable transport system to get waste to the incinerator

Ash pit to safely dump the incinerator ash

Regular maintenance and repairs

Adequate supply of fuel

Easily accessible site from waste storage via a paved walkway

PVC plastic (e.g. bottle caps)

Mercury thermometers

Batteries

X-ray or photographic materials Aerosol cans or gas receptacles

Glass vials (they can explode or if uncapped they melt and could block the incinerator grate)

Health care wastes are generated in a wide variety of sources, starting from hospital, human and animal clinics, health centres and dispensaries

Sources of hazardous waste include

Agricultural land and agro-industry pesticide; Rat poisons, veterinary product waste

Domestic; Batteries, dry cell, furniture polishes, wood preservatives, mosquito repellents, paints, disinfectant, fuel

Mines and mineral processing sites

Health care facilities; ƒ Pathological waste, human blood, contaminated needle, specific source from dentists, morticians, blood banks, hospital clinic and medical laboratories

Commercial wastes;ƒ Gasoline stations, dry cleaners and automobile repair shops

Institutional hazardous waste sources ƒ; Research laboratories, research centres and military installations

To establish the amount of waste generated per day, multiply the generation rate factor (0.41 kg/occupied beds per day) by the number of beds for referral, regional and district hospitals or 0.3 kg/patient per day for health centres and dispensaries

Hazardous material can be in various form including

Chemicals

Biological agents

Radioactive materials

Certain types of waste

Presence of waste or combination of waste may pose a substantial hazard to humans or other living organisms

Non degradable wastes are persistent in nature, can be biologically magnified and may cause a detrimental cumulative effect to humans, animals and other living organisms

Explosion

Infection

Chemical instability, reaction or corrosion

Cancer, mutation or birth defects

Acute or birth defects

Damage to ecosystem or natural resources or Cumulative effects

Improper disposal of sanitary refuse, like used diapers or sanitary pads, can lead to contamination of soil and water sources, posing health risks to humans and wildlife.

Hazardous material such as batteries or chemicals can leach toxins into the environment, causing soil and water pollution, harming ecosystems.

Collection; refuse and hazardous material are collected from households, businesses, and industrial sites using specialized trucks or containers. Separate collection system may be used for general waste and hazardous material.

Segregation; upon collection material are sorted and segregated based on their type. This involves separating recyclable materials like paper, plastic, glass and metals from non-recyclable waste. Hazardous material are also segregated to prevent contamination.

Segregation of Health Care Wastes

Waste shall be separated by the person generating the waste immediately according to its type and placed in a bin with an appropriate coloured bin liner or a sharps receptacle

Separate waste by the type at the place (bed side or laboratory) where it is generated

Waste handlers shall never sort through waste after it has been placed in the bin

Waste Container and Colour Coding

To ensure an immediate and non-equivocal identification of hazards the following colour system shall be followed

Each waste shall be stored in receptacles corresponding to its coded colour

Transportation; once segregated material are loaded onto designated vehicles for transportation to appropriate facilities. Hazardous material are transported using specialized vehicles equipped to handle them safely, following strict regulations to prevent leaks or spills.

Disposal; refuse and hazardous material are disposed of in accordance with local regulations and environmental standards. Non hazardous waste maybe sent to landfills, compositing facilities or waste –to- energy plants.

Hazardous material require specialized treatment or disposal methods to minimize environmental and health risks. This could involve incineration, chemical treatment, or secure land filling, depending on nature of the materials.