Hospital waste generation and management in some provinces of Iran

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the rate of generation of different kinds of hospital waste and its management in 11 provinces of Iran in 2012. Waste samples were separated into two categories (domestic type and infectious waste) and weighed daily for 4 weeks, distributed over four seasons to determine quantities and composition. Data on waste management were collected through a questionnaire and interviews of hospital personnel. The total generation of hospital waste ranged from 2.3 to 4.6kg bed-day(-1) for Razavi Khorasan and Sistan & Baluchistan provinces. Generation of infectious waste varied from 1.0 to 1.7kg bed-day(-1) for Sistan & Baluchistan and Markazi provinces. The lowest and highest percentages of infectious waste generation were found in Golistan (3.8%) and Fars (15.3%). It was also revealed that management of sharps, infectious, and other hazardous wastes was not properly done. A segregation program must be implemented and each fraction of hospital waste must be collected and disposed of separately.