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Recommendations for the Management of Wastes From Healthcare Facilities in Helsinki

Helsinki City Center of the Environment, Finland

Alli Kaski

Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland

Juhani Lähdevirta

Aurora Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

In Helsinki, Finland, new guidelines have been adopted for the management of wastes from healthcare facilities. The purpose has been to rationalize waste management, reducing the amount of waste needing special treatment and lowering costs, while at the same time maintaining occupational safety and preventing environmental hazards. The changes are mainly due to the new definition of infectious waste, based on practical assessment of the possibility of spread of infection via the wastes. As a result, it has been possible to omit one chain of waste handling which has led to simpler practices and economic benefits. Sanitary landfill has been accepted for disposal of clinical waste, except for the biological waste to be incinerated for ethical reasons and infectious waste contaminated by class 4 viruses, Yersinia pestis or Bacillus anthracis. Diseases caused by these micro-organisms are not a practical problem in Finland. © 1996 ISWA

Key Words: Waste management • waste definitions • infectious waste • healthcare facilities • Finland.

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