Sustainable Solutions to Dispose Medical Waste | What's That?

Medical Waste in Healthcare – An Ecological Anxiety?

The rapidly changing healthcare landscape has turned into a nightmare for the ecosystem.?

Reckless disposal of bio-waste, surgically eliminated human body parts, casual disposal of laboratory wastes like pathogens, etc. is a common environmental menace these days.?

A recent press release on the medical waste management market shared the scopes and challenges associated with the global medical waste treatment market.

Global Medical Waste Market – An Overview

The global market for medical waste is on the rise. Its projected growth is 14.1 billion US$ in 2024 and 22.6 billion US$ by the end of 2033.

The medical waste market in 2024 has shown a CAGR growth of 9.1%. It is fueled by increasing healthcare services, stricter regulations and innovative waste disposal technology.

This means, there’s still a huge business opportunity in the global medical waste management market.?

That’s where the question of sustainability comes in for those businesses handling healthcare waste. Let’s analyze them, one by one.?

• Global healthcare sectors need stricter regulations for end-of-life disposal of medical waste?
• Just like the Medical Waste Tracking Act in US and, Waste Framework Directive of EU, India too needs a robust medical waste treatment and disposal regulations?
• Government must make additional efforts to address every non-compliance while managing medical waste and monitor them strictly
• The increasing market investments on healthcare services have skyrocketed the volume of medical waste every year?
• Stakeholders investing in healthcare must take accountability for eco-conscious medical waste produced each year
• Market of waste based on its type and category is mandatory to treat biomedical waste by separating it from other types of waste

Separate Treatment for Different Types of Medical Waste?

• Hazardous waste – Infectious chemical, and radioactive waste?
• Non-Hazardous Waste – General medical waste known for lesser health risk??
• Preferring onsite treatment for biomedical trash that can be processed within healthcare and clinics?
• Choosing dedicated areas to transport medical waste for off site treatment which needs special disposal facilities. The areas must be far from the locality?
• Stricter guidelines and regulations for collection, transportation, recycling treatment and disposal of medical waste
• Increasing awareness among pharmaceutical companies to align with registered bio medical waste recyclers for sustainable disposal of chemical and biological materials?

Eco-Conscious Innovations in Medical Waste Treatment

• Autoclaving technology (super-powered steam cleaning) to treat bio medical waste?
• Microwave treatment for safe waste disposal, cleaner and efficient medical waste disposal?
• Real-time monitoring process for collection, transportation and disposal, of medical waste?
• Using advanced incineration to burn medical waste to reduce the waste volume by neutralizing infectious agents?

Conclusion?

Medical waste disposal has already turned into a challenge along with other environmental crisis on Earth. Sustainable healthcare business models must find innovative solutions to treat medical waste to enjoy the huge revenue scopes involved in the medical waste management market.?

It’s the only way to prioritize eco-conscious business by leading the planet towards a green future.?