Vol. 406 No. 2
7 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline the guidelines he issues on disposal of body waste; if there are EC regulations governing such waste; and if there are plans for new procedures and/or new units for such material.
Disposal of hospital waste, including anatomical substances, is at present covered in a general way by the European Communities (Waste) Regulations, 1979 and, in the case of incineration of these wastes, by the Air Pollution Act, 1987. More specific power is being taken in the Environmental Protection Agency Bill, 1990 for control by the Agency of incineration of hospital waste.
EC draft directives on hazardous waste and incineration of hazardous waste contain provisions in relation to anatomical substances.
The Minister for Health has previously explained that, at hospital level, procedures and guidelines for the disposal of clinical waste are drawn up in each hospital having regard to internal operational policies. In that regard, I refer to column 783, of the Official Report for 10 May, 1988.
