An Analysis of Solid Waste Management Practices in Lamjung District Community Hospital, Nepal

Abstract

This study assessed the process of managing the health care wastes and their disposal in one of the major hospital in Lamjung district, Nepal. It was found that the hospital does not quantify solid wastes and segregation of the different types of wastes is not so well practiced. Average awareness of the magnitude of hospital waste management of hospital staffs and patients ages ranging from 15 to 85 was found at 67.857% and 49% respectively. The findings in this paper indicated that the waste generation rate is around 0.860 kg/inpatient/day, 0.053 kg/outpatient/day. Total waste generation by hospital was estimated at 141.765 kg/day, in which 91.939% of nonhazardous and 8.060% of hazardous respectively. The study showed that almost all infectious wastes are disposed by incineration process. It was also found that the hospital has been still using mercury thermometer. Total cost of hospital waste management was an amount of $US 26538.717 in 2018 AD including remuneration of waste management workers, whereas income from selling off recyclable waste is negligible comparison to the total cost. It can be recommended that the government and relevant agents should be at alert to their responsibilities of regulating the waste management practices in big hospitals.

Solid waste management practices and challenges in Besisahar municipality, Nepal

“…Hospital waste, obsolete pesticides, and a few industrial wastes were the most common sources of hazardous waste in BM. It was reported that the waste generated by one of the biggest hospitals in Lamjung in BM was 141.765 kg/day, consisting of 91.94% nonhazardous waste and 8.060% hazardous waste [ 3 ]. In BM, most hospitals, health posts, and health clinics did not have incinerators.…”

“…Target 3.9 refers to reducing the number of deaths and diseases due to hazardous chemicals, pollution, and contamination of air, water, and soil [ 13 ]. Aryal et al [ 3 ] reported that medical waste disposal in BM is often problematic. It is important to properly manage medical waste within health facilities, such as by incineration, sterilization, or shredding, to reduce the spread of infections and pathogens.…”

“…In developing countries, most waste is composed of organic materials, which are generally three times higher than in industrialized countries [2]. The improper disposal of electronic waste, polythene materials, and medical waste in the locality also contributes to pollution and public health hazards [3][4][5]. Waste management (WM) involves several interdependent activities such as collection, source separation, storage, recycling and reuse, biological treatment, transportation etc.…”