Optimization of Infectious Hospital Waste Management in Italy: Part I—Wastes Production and Characterization Study

Abstract

A two-year R&D project dealing with the study, design, prototype plant development and operation of an integrated management system of infectious hospital wastes (IHW) has been recently performed by CO.PR.AM., an Italian industrial consortium. The project was concerned with the characterization, handling (collection, storage, transportation) and incineration of IHW produced by a large sanitary district (three hospitals, 191 different clinics, 40 laboratories, and a total of 2500 bedspaces) and permitted researchers to analyse in detail each major aspect of IHW disposal such as production handling and treatment in order to devise an optimal solution to their overall management. This paper deals with the sources of IHW production and the characterization of its individual components. Subsequent papers shall detail heavy metals content and other chemical characteristics of IHW, as well as environmental releases (i.e. atmospheric emissions, fly and bottom ashes) during incineration.