MedWaste: Tools & Resources

I. Philippines Measles Eradication Campaign (PMEC)

HCWH-SEA believes that it’s possible to do a national health campaign without spreading dangerous waste. Case in point: the Philippines Measles Eradication Campaign (PMEC). 

Immunization is vital to preventing disease and saving lives. However, large-scale vaccination programs can create enormous amounts of waste. Often, this waste is burned openly. Sometimes, donors build cheap, improvised incinerators, which are used to burn syringes and other waste materials. This activity dumps dioxins into the air, and negates any health advantage that the vaccination programs impart. 

In 2004, we collaborated with the Philippine Department of Health (DOH), in association with the World Health Organization (WHO), to demonstrate viable alternatives to burning waste. As a result, the Philippines became the first country to deal with waste from a nationwide vaccination program without resorting to incineration or open burning.

The follow-up to PMEC targeted an estimated 18 million children during the month of February 2004. In a little over a month, the PMEC generated an estimated 19.5 million syringes, collected in 162,000 safety boxes, amounting to about 810,000 liters, or 130,000 kg, of sharps waste. Also produced were an additional 740,000 liters, or 72,000 kg, of non-hazardous waste such as empty vaccine vials and ampoules, and syringe wrappers.

To learn more about the ground-breaking campaign, read:

• Executive Summary of our report: Disposal of Mass Immunization Waste Without Incineration, (6pp, pdf)

• Full report: Waste Management and Disposal During the Philippine Follow-Up Measles Campaign 2004 (112pp, pdf)

II. Fast Facts

1. On average, chemical and radioactive waste comprise 5% of healthcare facilities’ total waste.
2. Medical waste includes the waste generated by healthcare and research facilities, and those produced via medical procedures done at home. 
3. Healthcare facilities produce toxic substances. Improper management of waste can cause a variety of environment and health hazards.
4. Poor medical waste management practices: Non-waste segregation; unsafe waste handling; dumping untreated waste.
5. Poor medical waste management practices: Preferential procurement of toxic products; extensive use of disposable materials.
6. A poor medical waste management practice: Inadequate procedure for clean up and containment of spills. 
7. A poor medical waste management practices: Weak inventory control and inappropriate classification of hazardous wastes.
8. Good medical waste management practices: Pollution prevention; waste minimization; correct classification & segregation.
9. Good medical waste management practices: Proper containing & color-coding; safe handling and collection of waste.
10. Good medical waste management practices: Labeling & signage; proper storage; transportation & final disposal.
11. Only 15% of the total healthcare waste is infectious. 

III. Videos

View the Burn Not video series, featuring celebs and cultural leaders. The videos shed light on the effects of waste disposal via incineration. 

Sustainable Waste Management

Incineration Impacts

Policies

Worker Safety

Projects and Case Studies

Find out more about the four Philippine pilot hospitals that have conducted safe, sustainable waste disposal: 

Read up about Baguio City’s efforts to make healthcare cleaner and safer: 

Learn how the damage caused by improper waste management counts as a violation of human rights:

Find out about the state of medical waste management in different countries, including the Philippines:

Uncover the truth about the Hoval waste incinerators used in local hospitals, and their financial and environmental costs:

Learn more about the Philippines’ drive to lessen air pollution: 

It is possible to conduct a nationwide immunization program while minimizing harmful waste. Read how the Philippines did it in this report: 

Learn more about the Philippines’ succeeding immunization efforts: