5. Conclusion
The daily operation may imply a high cost in coping with the regulatory requirement for waste management at medical establishments. The capacity of the medical establishment limits the availability of resources and the bargaining power for recycling and waste handling. This study found that the medical centers produce most of the medical wastes in Taiwan, but they produce less waste per bed per day. To our knowledge, they also possess better leverage to negotiate with the medical waste collectors to handle the recyclable materials. In conclusion, medical wastes in Taiwan included high amounts of infectious wastes destined for incineration. Medical centers are responsible for more than the half of the total infectious waste. A serious effort is needed to reduce waste generation and to increase material recycling.