Problematics of the classification and storage of

the health care waste

Epp Lehtmets, RN

What is health care waste?

Health care waste is the waste released in the institutions related to the health care, cure and care of animals

In Estonia, health care waste is not clearly classified into the infectious and non-hazardous waste based on the criteria of the infection

Waste Act of the Republic of Estonia

The waste holder must have a rewiew of the category, quantity and origin of the waste at its disposal, characteristics important from the viewpoint of the waste handeling and danger to the health, environment and assets arising from the waste

Contagious waste must be handled like infectious waste and they can not be taken to custom dumping ground nor to non-hazardous dumping ground

Classified into the infectious and non-hazardous waste based in “Chemical Act” § 5 section 1

Chemical which is dangerous to health, environment or assets arising from the waste is classified as infectious waste

Subjects which are not on the list are counted as non-hazardous waste

Hospital Beds Infectio-us

Infect-ious

Non-hazard-ous

Non-hazard-ous

Pärnu Hospital

410 24,47 t 0,16 kg 1,97 t 0,01kg

Tartu University Hospital

942 202,21 t 0,59 kg 1608,6 t 4,68 kg

North-Estonia Medical Centre

1390 0,35 t - 339,55 t 0,67 kg

Ministry of environment

“We are not compentant enough to asses dangers of contagion or potention

of it. This is to deep of medical and health care question for us”

vs

Ministry of social affairs

“Waste policy is not our juridiction, ministry of social affairs deals only with

healtcare only”

Thank you!