An evaluation of anaesthetic waste generation at a Johannesburg academic hospital

Abstract

Background: The healthcare sector contributes directly to global warming and environmental decline. This is partly due to disproportionately large waste generation compared to other sectors and the environmental consequences of medical waste incineration. Waste separation and recycling decrease the total waste generation of the theatre complex, decreasing the cost of waste disposal, and if properly implemented, can generate revenue. Waste separation is not performed uniformly, and no recycling programmes exist in the theatre complexes of the academic hospitals in Johannesburg. Potentially recyclable anaesthetic waste is not identified in our setting.

Methods: Recyclable anaesthetic waste items were identified. Anaesthetic waste was collected after every anaesthetic case. General and medical waste were weighed respectively and inspected for correct separation. Recyclable items were separated from general waste and weighed.

Results: A total of 107.6 kg of anaesthetic waste was evaluated. Per anaesthetic case, 74.6% (65.0–84.2%) was medical waste, and 25.4% (15.8–35.0%) was general waste. Of the general waste, 68.8% (57.7–78.8%) was recyclable. Only 6.8% of medical and 61.4% of general waste bags inspected were correctly separated. Within each medical waste bag, 6.9% (2.3–15.5%) of waste was incorrectly placed general waste. Similarly, each general waste bag contained 6% (0–21.6%) incorrectly placed medical waste. Waste generated per surgical discipline was significantly different.

Conclusion: Correct waste separation, a key step in decreasing the burden of healthcare waste, was poor. The study demonstrated that most general anaesthetic waste is recyclable.