A Survey on Medical Solid Waste Management in Hospitals in Bushehr Province, Iran, in Years 2015-2016

This survey was performed to determine the status of medical solid waste and its management in hospitals in Bushehr Province, Iran, during the years 2015-2016.
This descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out using questionnaire, interview, observation, survey, weighing, and laboratory tests during the 24 months in ten hospitals in the Bushehr Province. The researcher-made questionnaire contained 103 questions, based on the guidelines of the WHO, medical waste management programs, and expert guidance of work and environment health center.
Findings: In 10 evaluated hospitals in Bushehr Province, the solid waste generation rate was 5718.34 kg/day, including general wastes (59.61%) and dangerous wastes (40.39%). Infectious waste recycling was not done in any of the hospitals. In two hospitals, safe and updated methods were not carried out; but the waste separation programs were performed in all hospitals. All service personnel in the process of waste handling, used personal protective equipment. Every hospital had a disposal special place. Only six hospitals had hazardous waste disposal special place; and in five hospitals, the transportation of wastes to final disposal place was done acceptably.
Despite the great efforts in the management of medical wastes, there are many problems in the management process, particularly in segregation, transportation, temporary storage, and making safe. To solve these problems, updated methods for solids, which require continuing education for staff, and strict supervision to make systems safe in destruction and final disposal in the field, along with consideration of environmental factors, should be performed.