Title: The creation and monitoring of a network for solid healthcare waste management

Authors: Olivia Maamari; Fady Moujaes; Robert Keyrouz; Dany El-Obeid; Michèle Kosremelli Asmar; Cedric Brandam; Roger Lteif; Dominique Salameh

Addresses: Chemistry Department, Faculty of Sciences, Saint Joseph University, B.P. 11-514, 11072050, Lebanon; Environment Program, arcenciel, B.P. 165216, Beirut, Lebanon ' Environment Program, arcenciel, B.P. 165216, Beirut, Lebanon ' Faculty of Science II, Lebanese University, B.P. 90656, Jdeideth el Metn, Lebanon ' Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Lebanese University, Dekwaneh, Lebanon ' Institute of Health Management and Social Protection, Saint Joseph University, B.P. 11-5076, 11072180, Lebanon ' Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Ingénieurs en Arts Chimiques Et Technologiques, 4 Allée Emile Monso, 31030 Toulouse, France ' Chemistry Department, Faculty of Sciences, Saint Joseph University, B.P. 11-514, 11072050, Lebanon ' Chemistry Department, Faculty of Sciences, Saint Joseph University, B.P. 11-514, 11072050, Lebanon; Environment Program, arcenciel, B.P. 165216, Beirut, Lebanon

Abstract: Healthcare waste mismanagement constitutes a serious environmental and sanitary problem, especially in developing countries. This article describes the strategy and the methodology of the implementation of a national network for healthcare waste management by a non-profit organisation in Lebanon, taking into consideration environmental, social and economic issues. It presents a holistic description of the main aspects of this crucial sustainable development topic: the elaboration of the strategy and the selection of the optimal treatment technique based on an analysis of the context; the training on waste minimisation and waste management issues inside hospitals; the waste transportation and treatment procedures; the quality management of the process; the evaluation and the monitoring of the produced quantities and the established system; the optimisation of sterilisation parameters and process in order to reduce sterilisation time and fuel consumption.

Keywords: healthcare waste; HCW; medical waste; waste monitoring; solid waste management; SWM; strategic planning; developing countries; national networks; non-profit organisations; Lebanon; environmental issues; social issues; economic issues; waste minimisation; hospitals; waste transport; waste treatment; quality management; sterilisation time; fuel consumption.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2015.068937

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2015 Vol.15 No.2, pp.130 - 147

Received: 31 Dec 2013
Accepted: 30 Sep 2014

Published online: 09 May 2015 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article