Guides to pollution prevention: Selected hospital waste streams
The hazardous wastes generated by general medical and surgical hospitals are small in volume relative to those of industrial facilities; however, the wastes are of a wide variety. Some of the hazardous materials used by hospitals that become part of their waste streams include chemotherapy and antineoplastic chemicals, solvents, formaldehyde, photographic chemicals, radionuclides, mercury, waste anesthetic gases; and other toxic, corrosive and miscellaneous chemicals. Additional wastes such as infectious waste, incinerator exhaust, laundry-related waste, utility wastes, and trash were not addressed in the guide. Reducing the generation of these materials at the source, or recycling the wastes on- or off-site, will benefit hospitals by reducing disposal costs and lowering the liabilities associated with hazardous waste disposal. The guide provides an overview of hospital waste generating processes and presents options for minimizing waste generation through source reduction and recycling.
- Research Organization:
- Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc., Pasadena, CA (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6533708
- Report Number(s):
- PB-90-256421/XAB; CNN: EPA-68-02-4286
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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AIR POLLUTION
ALDEHYDES
BUILDINGS
CHEMICAL SPILLS
ELEMENTS
FORMALDEHYDE
HOSPITALS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENTS
MERCURY
METALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RECOMMENDATIONS
SOLVENTS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WATER POLLUTION