Healthcare Waste

January 2024 – Healthcare Waste (HCW), or medical waste, refers to the hazardous and non-hazardous waste generated from healthcare facilities. HCW sources include hospitals, laboratories, and blood banks. Hazardous HCW types include infectious, pathological, pharmaceutical, genotoxic, and radioactive.  Non-hazardous HCW types include paper, plastic, food, electronics, and glass. Improper HCW handling has negative impacts on human health and the environment. Healthcare waste management is defined as the sustainable disposal of HCW using environmentally safe and cost-effective technologies while minimizing the health risks associated with waste handling. In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) launched an initiative addressing proper HCW treatment around the world. 

In this slideshow, you will learn about the definition, sources, types, impacts, management, UN policy, and global statistics of healthcare waste.