Brendan Howlin
Question:75 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children if new guidelines have been issued to hospitals in relation to the disposal of hospital waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5780/02]
Written Answers. - Hospital Waste.
In 1994 my Department issued a health services waste policy to all health boards and acute voluntary hospitals. The policy advocated good environmental and health and safety practices in the management, handling and disposal of all wastes generated in hospitals. A national contract has been in operation for the last two years for the collection and treatment of health care risk waste by alternative technology. All acute hospitals now have their health care risk waste treated and disposed of in this manner. The non-risk hospital waste, which is largely domestic in nature, is disposed of by the municipal or commercial waste disposal route. A further guidance document was issued in 1999 on the segregation, packaging and storage of health care risk waste. This latter document is being updated currently in the light of recent regulatory changes relating to the transportation and carriage of such materials. The guidelines will be reissued as soon as the changes have been effected.