The Environmental Impacts of Medical Waste: The Hidden Waste

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Written by: Gabrielle Embury

Access to adequate healthcare is often a topic on the forefront of a country’s development concerns, to the extent where the United Nations third development goal is to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages[2].

Luckily, in New Zealand, healthcare is considered broadly accessible[3]. Whilst this is a huge feat in maintaining high standards of health and wellbeing, it shrouds the extensive resources that go into providing these services, which eventually end up as medical waste.

When you last required medical treatment did you think about the waste you would consequently produce? Why would you — health is wealth, right? Waste can’t be more important than that. Medical waste is defined as the waste generated as a result of any patient diagnosis, treatment and immunization of both human beings and animals[4]. Going beyond New Zealand’s human population, consider the extensive waste produced as a result of our bustling farming industry and subsequent environmental impacts.

In 2013, the United States healthcare activities were responsible for 9-10% of national greenhouse gas emissions[5]. in addition the World Health Organisation estimates 16 billion injections are administered each year globally. With a large proportion being incorrectly disposed of[6] due to poor practice or improper separation of waste types produced as shown in figure 1.

Figure 1: Typical waste compositions in health-care facilities[7]

Medical waste is commonly disposed of either through incineration or into regular landfill sites. The incineration of medical waste results in the production of dioxins and pollutants which accumulate in the environment and introduce themselves into the food chain and atmosphere[8]. This includes a variety of heavy metals, acid gases and nitrogen oxides which can contribute to global warming through the Greenhouse Gas effect[9].

However, the alternative to incineration is no better. These potentially biohazardous substances can be dumped into regular landfill sites, which already host their own concoction of negative environmental impacts. Through mishandled treatment and disposal Lockyer of Eco Marine picks up medical waste. Photo: Jonathan Wongcan leech toxins into drinking and ground water sources, contaminated the soil through biohazardous material as well as the introduction of pathogens into the surrounding environment[10].

Improper disposal has also lead to such incidents in Hong Kong, where medical and biohazardous waste washed up along kilometres of coastlines[11] shown in figure 2, posing immediate health and safety concerns as well as introducing plastic and chemical pollutants.

Figure 2: Volunteer picks up medical waste in Hong Kong’s Lamma’s Pak Kok Tsui Beach [13]

The environmental impacts of medical waste can be reduced though. Through heightened awareness and implementation of correct disposal techniques by health providers, as well as alternative eco-friendly waste management strategies[12].

[1] After Flood Of Medical Debris, Waste Management Of Hawaii, Principals, Indicted On Violations Of Clean Water Act. (2014). Hawaii Reporter. http://www.hawaiireporter.com/waste-management-of-hawaii-principals-indicted-on-violations-of-clean-water-act-making-false-statements/

[2] Sustainable Development Goal 3.(2019). United Nations. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg3

[3]. Paying For Healthcare In New Zealand | New Zealand Now. (2020). New Zealand Immigration. https://www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/living-in-nz/healthcare/paying-for-healthcare-services

[4] Medical Waste. (2020). Pollution Issues. http://www.pollutionissues.com/Li-Na/Medical-Waste.html

[5] Eckelman, M. and Sherman, J., 2018. Estimated Global Disease Burden From US Health Care Sector Greenhouse Gas Emissions. American Journal of Public Health, 108(S2), pp.S120-S122. DOI:10.2105/ajph.2017.303846   

[6] Health-care Waste. (2018). World health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/health-care-waste

[7] Chartier, Y., Emmanuel, J., Peiper, U., Annette, P., Rushbrook, P., Stringer, R., & Townsend, W. (2014). Safe management of wastes from health-care activities . World Health Organisation.

[8] Emanuel, J., 2020. Health And Ecological Effects Of Burning Medical Waste. Health Care Without Harm. https://noharm-global.org/articles/news/asia/health-and-ecological-effects-burning-medical-waste

[9] Emanuel, J., 2020. Health And Ecological Effects Of Burning Medical Waste. Health Care Without Harm. https://noharm-global.org/articles/news/asia/health-and-ecological-effects-burning-medical-waste

[10] Fullerton, K., 2017. The Environmental Hazards Of Medical Waste. Sense and Sustainability. http://www.senseandsustainability.net/2017/09/29/dumped-medical-waste-hazardous-to-the-environment/

[11] Knot, K., 2020. Drugs And Syringes Still Washing Up On Hong Kong Beaches. South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/2147047/drugs-and-medical-waste-still-wash-hong-kong-beaches

[12] Fullerton, K., 2017. The Environmental Hazards Of Medical Waste. Sense and Sustainability. http://www.senseandsustainability.net/2017/09/29/dumped-medical-waste-hazardous-to-the-environment/

[13] Knot, K., 2020. Drugs And Syringes Still Washing Up On Hong Kong Beaches. South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/2147047/drugs-and-medical-waste-still-wash-hong-kong-beaches