Preventing Harm from Health Care Waste 425
Reducing waste
Using fewer and less harmful materials will
reduce the amount of harmful health care waste.
When choosing materials for your clinic, think
about what kind of waste will be produced, how
harmful it will be, and how you will dispose of it.
Try our new
disposable
plastic sheet
covers!
Does our
clinic really
need this?
To reduce the amount of harmful waste:
• Avoid using disposable items if a reusable
choice is available and safe to use.
(Syringes and needles should not be
reused, see page 434.)
• Use non-mercury thermometers if they
are available. They cost more but are more
durable and less dangerous if they break.
• Do not buy more medicines than you need,
and use them only when necessary.
• Use pills instead of injections.
• Use non-plastic items when possible.
• Use the least toxic products to clean and disinfect whenever possible.
• Look for IV bags, tubing, and other materials made without PVC. They
are cheap and available in some places, and are always
safer for patients and the community.
Separating waste
Separating waste where it is created
is another important step in safe
handling of health care waste.
Separating wastes greatly reduces
risks to health center workers and to
people who collect, sell, and recycle
waste. Separation also reduces
the amount of waste that must be
treated or buried later and reduces
the cost of waste management.
Food waste from the health center can
be composted and used in gardens.
A Community Guide to Environmental Health 2012