A disposable choice for hospital waste.
"On-site incineration is becoming an increasingly important alternative for the treatment and disposal of institutional waste. Incineration reduces the weight and volume of most institutional solid waste by 90 to 95 percent, sterilizes pathogenic waste, detoxifies chemical waste, converts obnoxious waste (such as animal carcasses) into innocuous ash, and provides a substantial reduction in off-site disposal costs, making on-site incineration highly cost effective. Many systems have payback periods of less than one year. In addition, on-site incineration reduces the need to depend on off-site disposal contractors, which, in turn, minimizes potential exposures and liabilities associated with illegal or improper waste disposal activities." At this time, the hospital has found its best method for the treatment of infectious and noninfectious medical waste. It is not a perfect method, but all current technologies have limitations. There are several promisingly innovative approaches being pursued; however, they are only in developmental stages. "Winston-Salem, Forsyth Memorial Hospital is reducing infectious wastes ... with an innovative microwave system being used for the first time in the United States. Once the waste is run through the microwave system, the infectious content is destroyed. As a result, ninety percent of the hospital's infectious waste can be sent to the local landfill, which saves more than $200,000 a year in transport and disposal costs. The hospital hopes the $650,000 German system will pay for itself in three years." It is hoped that these new technologies will progress into reliable treatment options for medical waste during the 1990s. In the meantime, our hospital will continue to pursue refinements in its on-site operation, which is already providing cost savings, improved safety, and environmental benefits.
Baptist Medical Center--DeKalb, Fort Payne, AL.
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J
Brewer
D000407:Alabama; D002201:Capital Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D006788:Hospitals, Voluntary / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D008284:Maintenance and Engineering, Hospital / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D008506:Medical Waste / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009096:Multi-Institutional Systems / Q000191:economics; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*