Economic and environmental effectiveness of infectious medical waste disposal system: A case study of the tertiary health-care institution

Abstract

Medical waste represents a growing problem worldwide. This category of waste is very significant and special since the negative effects that it can have on both human health and the environment. The proper disposal of such waste, and especially infectious medical waste that poses the greatest risk, is crucial in a responsible functioning of health-care institutions. This paper presents a research study of gaining economic and environmental efficiency of using appropriate infectious medical waste disposal system by exploring the benefits of introducing an autoclave and shredder system in a public tertiary health-care institution - Clinical Hospital Center Zemun, Belgrade, Serbia. The presented model showed that it would have both financial gains in providing new savings as well as benefits for the human health and environment in lowering the risk of infections and pollution