ABSTRACT
Anything that we do not intend to use is waste. The infectious waste generated in hospitals can transmit infections or diseases to users or service providers, handlers of waste, and the community. It can also pollute the environment. Sharp wastes are mainly responsible for transmitting infections. Nurses and surgeons occasionally get needle-prick injuries. A study found that two-thirds of nurses in a hospital had sustained needle-prick injuries at some stage during their career. Hospitals produce both infectious and noninfectious waste. Hospital waste can be segregated based on the following four categories: infectious waste: yellow container; sharp waste: puncture-proof container; plastic waste: red container; and general waste: black container. This chapter discusses the technologies for treatment of waste. Infectious wastes can be treated through one of the subsequent methods called incineration. An important advantage of incinerators is that human body parts are burned into ashes, which reduces social or ethical considerations. Furthermore, the total volume of the waste is significantly reduced.
