Holistic approach of biomedical waste management system with regard to health and environmental risks

Abstract

An important issue of environmental protection process is the solid waste management (SWM), that includes responsible planning of collecting, transporting, processing and disposing of hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste material. A special concern focuses on effective management of biomedical waste. This article highlights a holistic approach of biomedical waste management, with regards to the chain of environmental and health risks and concerns, aimed in achieving the fundamental premises for a systemic approach of biomedical waste management. An attempt has been made to critically review the current biomedical waste management practices followed by some Romanian hospitals. Following the rules and legislation of both Romania and European Union, the methods for segregation, packaging, labeling and the treatment techniques for reduction in volume, neutralization and final disposal of the biomedical waste are analyzed.