Environment health group, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) today commends a city resolution under discussion in Puerto Princesa City Council that would ensure safe and proper disposal of medical, infectious and toxic medical waste.
The resolution proposed by Councilor Miguel Cuaderno IV will use autoclave in the treatment of infectious medical wastes from hospitals, infirmaries, birthing homes, clinics, laboratories, drug manufacturers, institutions, mortuary and autopsy centers.
“This resolution shows that what we need right now is the strict implementation of law through local ordinances,” said Merci Ferrer of HCWH-SEA. “Not revival of incinerators or promotion of incineration-in-disguise projects and waste-to-energy projects” after the collapse of a Baguio City dumpsite.
In August 2010, HCWH-SEA together with other environment organizations dialogued with the Department of Health (DoH) after it obtained a copy of the Department’s Health Executive Agenda for Legislation (HEAL) proposing amendment to the Clean Air Act by re-allowing the use of incinerations. DoH immediately retracted the proposal.
The group is concerned that the DoH would soon propose the use of medical waste incinerators to address wastes coming from the health care sector following recent announcements from the MMDA and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV pushing for the use of incinerators to address the burgeoning waste problem in Metro Manila.
“We would like to remind MMDA Chairman Atty. Francis Tolentino and Sen. Trillianes that there are safe and far more economical ways of minimizing wastes, treating and then disposing them properly without sacrificing the environment and the health of the people,” said Ferrer.
“Time and again, we pushed for reduction-reuse-recycle when it comes to waste management both in households and health care system,” said Ferrer. “In hospitals for example, 90% of medical wastes when properly segregated are regular household wastes that maybe reused or recycled and composted. The remaining 10% infectious wastes are then handled using alternative waste treatment technologies such as autoclave and microwave.”
She added that hospitals around the country have proven that through proper waste management and the use of alternative waste treatment technologies, the volume of wastes have significantly decreased. The budget for managing the wastes has likewise decreased. In fact, through recycling and composting, these hospitals were able to raise additional income for their hospitals.
“Incineration will not solve the garbage problem,” said Ferrer. “Without the basics of waste minimization and proper waste segregation, all wastes will end up being incinerated.” Incineration releases dioxins and furans, two of the most toxic and persistent pollutants known to science.
“We are worsening the already grim situation of our garbage,” said Ferrer. “Zero toxin emission is a hoax.”
The group is encouraging the health care sector to continue implementing proper waste management and to rally against possible medical and solid waste incineration revival. “The health care sector people know first-hand the ill-effects of incineration to health.”
They are likewise encouraging local governments to follow the model of Puerto Princesa City in working towards proper waste management not just in the hospital but for the whole community.
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