Health-care waste management of the hospitals in the European side of Istanbul

Abstract

The inefficient management and disposal of the health-care wastes generated at the health-care institutions is the significant problems faced in the İstanbul City of Turkey. This study will refer to the development of an integrated health-care waste management plan at the European Side of İstanbul City. In the scope of the study, firstly the existing institutional and legislative framework are reviewed and the health-care institutions generating the wastes are surveyed through the prepared questionnaires, comprehensive field research and personnel interviews. By the obtained data, the inventory about the amounts, types and sources of the health-care wastes is developed. The infectious composition of the health-care wastes is also determined by the conducted microbiological analyses. To analyze the possible cost reductions, the optimum waste prevention and minimization techniques are suggested for the health-care institutions. For the problem of the transportation and disposal of these wastes; the optimum transportation routes are prepared and the appropriate treatment and disposal technologies are determined. The final stage is planning and proposing a health-care waste management center which can be used as a basis for the other cities in Turkey. All the graphs, tables and maps related to the proposed suggestions are illustrated in the study.