Current Status of Healthcare Waste Generation and Management of a Facility for Sterilization and Crushing of Healthcare waste in the Republic of Korea

In this study, the status of healthcare waste generation and treatment, management system in Korea was investigated to figure out the overall status.

by Young-Sam Yoon

Abstract

 
Healthcare waste has been managed by applying stringent regulation for containers, transport vehicles, and disposal in consideration of infection concerns in the Republic of Korea. However, the amount of healthcare waste generated is continuously increasing due to the population aging and the development of healthcare services. Also, the current operating ratio of the healthcare waste incinerator is 117%, which is close to the legal limit of 130%. Nevertheless, it is difficult to install or expand a new healthcare waste incinerator due to the opposition of residents and local governments. In the past, it was difficult to install a facility for sterilization and crushing of healthcare waste in accordance with the 「Educational Environment Protection Act」, but as the installation regulations were relaxed from September 2020, it was possible to reduce the burden of a healthcare waste incinerator due to on-site treatment. The installation and operation of these a facility for sterilization and crushing is considered a stable treatment method in general hospitals with a large amount of healthcare waste. In this study, the status of healthcare waste generation and treatment, management system in Korea was investigated to figure out the overall status. In addition, we compared the standards for a facility for sterilization and crushing in the Republic of Korea and other countries. Also, we tried to propose a stable treatment method for healthcare waste by current operating status.
 
Keywords: Healthcare waste, Incinerator, A Facility for Sterilization and Crushing


published: Korea Society of Waste Management, 11|2022
Keywords: Energy Recovery, Hazardous Waste, Korea (Republic of)