Something is being done about healthcare waste

This in in reference to Mr. Emil Jurado’s article that appeared on July 30 and which asked Environment Secretary Lito Atienza and this bureau what we are doing about health care or hospital wastes.

Republic Act 6969: “Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear waste Control Act of 1990” and its rules and regulations[Department Administrative Order Nos. 92-29 and 2004-36) say that “pathogenic and infectious wastes” generated from all public and private Healthcare Institutions, i.e., medical centers, lying-ins, clinics, etc., are regulated with assigned hazardous waster no. M501. Thus, transport and disposal are strictly required to secure permits and clearances from this Office or from Regional Offices.

At present, we maintain a national tracking system on all hazardous wastes including healthcare wastes generated that are submitted and monitored by our regional offices. Since 2003, we have monitored 1,719 hospitals, of which 227 (13.2 percent) are duly registered and complying with permitting system.

Further, disposal of healthcare wastes are prohibited in any landfill unsless the facility is duly registered with this office as Category C of the treatment, storage and disposal (TSD) facility under DAO 2004-36.

Healthcare wastes should not be considered or classified as ordinary wastes. Per our consolidated data, in 2007, there are 1,945.01 tons of healthcare wastes generated, of which, 1,866.95 tons are treated and 1,119.86 tons are properly disposed of nationwide.

Further, to provide the necessary services on healthcare waste management, we have 71 registered transporters and 26 registered TSD facilities nationwide with a combined monthly treatment capacity of 1,334 tons. This office, EMB, maintain this registry and can be accessed and downloaded in our website: www.emb.gov.ph.

Since 2006, operations of open dump sites have been prohibited by virtue of RA 9003: “the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.” All local government units are required to comply with the said prohibition of the aforementioned Act. Thus, it is not expected by this office that there are still open dump sites operating in Metro Manila. Rest assured that we shall be informing the National Solid Waste Management Commission about this issue.

In order to strengthen enforcement of policies on healthcare waste management, the DENR and Health Department have issued JOint Administrative Order 2005-02 to delineate responsibilities and to harmonize implementation of rules and regulations on the transport, storage and dispoal of healthcare wastes. To further support and strengthen implementation of DAO 2005-02, the DoH developed and prepared the Health Care Waste Management Manual to guide procedurally healthcare establishments and institutions on the proper management and disposal of hazardous healthcare waste.

Julian D. Amador
Director
Environmental Management Bureau
Department of Environment and Natural Resources