ABSTRACT
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, “incineration is a widely-accepted waste treatment option with many benefits. Combustion reduces the volume of waste that must be disposed in landfills, and can reduce the toxicity of waste.” Leachables will be released from plastics under normal landfill conditions. These may also have biohazardous substances associated with them if the waste has not been presterilized, and hence may cause an environmental risk. The assessment of the risk associated with extractables and leachables has so far been focused on the product and the associated health risks and not on potential environmental risks. While it is generally believed that the environmental impact of conventional stainless steel systems is lower than the disposable systems, the induction of disposable technology carries a negative connotation, particularly in the United States, where 5 percent of the world’s population produces 95 percent of the world’s garbage.
