Unhealthy
One only has to think back to the COVID days of obligatory mask wearing and the resultant littering of masks across streets, train stations and pretty much everywhere else to realise that medical waste is a big issue.
The healthcare industry is estimated to account for 4-5% of all plastic waste and greenhouse gas emissions. This is roughly twice that of the much maligned aviation sector. Some estimates suggest that the rapidly ageing global population will see the healthcare sector triple its consumption of plastic waste and production of greenhouse gas emissions over the next quarter century.
It is something of an irony that an industry dedicated to improving human health is likely to remain a very significant polluter. In 2021 the World Health Organisation projected that climate change would be responsible for quarter of a million excess deaths each year from 2030-2050. The deaths will largely be due to malnutrition, diarrhoea and heat stress.
That said, there are many examples of healthcare institutions taking action to reduce their environmental impact. Massachusetts General Hospital, for example, has implemented a comprehensive plan to reduce its use of single-use plastics, including eliminating plastic straws and bags. The hospital has invested in energy-efficient upgrades to its buildings and equipment resulting in significant energy savings. The hospital has also partnered with suppliers to ensure that its purchases are sourced sustainably.
Of most concern is the unsafe disposal of hazardous medical waste, possibly up to 15% of total waste. Think of contaminated needles, syringes, bodily fluids, unused or expired medications and chemical waste (cleaning agents, disinfectants etc).
Tighter regulations are to be expected. In the UK the Environmental Protection Act (1990) provides the overarching framework for waste management in the UK, including medical waste, while the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations cover the disposal of electrical and electronic equipment, including medical devices. There are also regulations governing the handling and disposal of hazardous waste (including certain types of medical waste).
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