Medical waste warning
WASTE and recycling company, Averda, which has extensive medical waste treatment operations throughout the country, has cautioned healthcare facilities to expect an increase in medical waste during the third wave of the pandemic.
Managing director for Averda South Africa, Justice Tootla, said the company treated more than 600 000 tons of Covid-19 waste in January. He said that represented a significant increase in volumes from previous months, which the company is used to.
Tootla said that only a month prior, at the peak of the second wave, the number was just more than 50% less, with 350 415 tons of waste collected and treated.
He said even though last month’s numbers had shown a decrease and were predicted to continue to drop over the next months, health-care facilities should use the second wave as a baseline to prepare themselves for the next wave.
“On top of that, we need to keep in mind that the medical waste landscape will once again change, with a further increase in the volume of ‘sharps’ as a result of the vaccine roll-out,” Tootla said.
He said the company had started preparations for the influx of that type of medical waste and would be able to deal with the safe disposal thereof.
Community services and health mayoral committee member Zahid Badroodien said their facilities were prepared to deal with a possible increase in medical waste generation during the next wave.
“We follow a strict waste disposal process that safely disposes of potentially contaminated waste, related or unrelated to Covid-19 exposure,” Badroodien said.
Provincial Health Department spokesperson Mark van der Heever said Covid-19 waste was managed in line with departmental standard operating procedures and legislated norms and standards. He said the department had two licensed contracted service providers responsible for the management of Covid-19 medical waste.
“Staff across all districts are regularly kept abreast of the possibility of a third wave. Messaging includes proactive planning to ensure measures are in place, to manage the increase in volume of Covid-19 medical waste in the third wave,” he said.