title: Application countermeasures of non-incineration technologies for medical waste treatment in China.
abstract: By the end of 2012, there were 272 modern, high-standard, centralized medical waste disposal facilities operating in various cities in China. Among these facilities nearly 50% are non-incineration treatment facilities, including the technologies of high temperature steam, chemical disinfection and microwave. Each of the non-incineration technologies has its advantages and disadvantages, and any single technology cannot offer a panacea because of the complexity of medical waste disposal. Although non-incineration treatment of medical waste can avoid the release of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans, it is still necessary to decide how to best meet the local waste management needs while minimizing the impact on the environment and public health. There is still a long way to go to establish the sustainable application and management mode of non-incineration technologies. Based on the analysis of typical non-incineration process, pollutant release, and the current tendency for technology application and development at home and abroad, this article recommends the application countermeasures of non-incineration technologies as the best available techniques and best environmental practices in China.
authors.affiliation: 1Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Qiong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Xiaoling
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zhengyou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Diandou
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Qinzhong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods; D006358:Hot Temperature; D017745:Incineration; D008506:Medical Waste; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D008872:Microwaves; D011634:Public Health; D013227:Steam; D064091:Waste Disposal Facilities
chemical_list: D008506:Medical Waste; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal; D013227:Steam
keywords: BAT/BEP; classification; medical waste; non-incineration technologies; pollution control