chance that toxic chemicals like dioxins and furans are generated.
Population growth in the area (Tshilidzini hospital)
has led to residential homes being built close to the landfill
site on the outside of the hospital fence. Depending on the
wind direction, when the waste is burned, smoke reaches
these homes, dispersing toxic air pollutants. The community
living near the landfill therefore acts as passive samplers
through inhalation of polluted air.
The landfills at the hospitals are supposed to be divided
into two portions, one for putting general waste and the
other, medical waste. Only general waste is supposed to
be burned. However, in practice this is not followed. Both
general and medical wastes are mixed at the landfill and
burned together.
4.4.7. Recycling
Recycling at both hospitals is being undertaken (Table
4), although at a small scale. Most the waste that is being
recycled is leftover food. Other general wastes that have
potential for recycling but that are not recycled include
plastic bags, plastic containers and cans. These plastics
comes from various sources within the hospital, but the
major percentage comes from cafeteria related service
(25%) and medical packaging (26%) (Lee et al., 2002).
Most of the cans also come from cafeteria related services
and within the hospitals; these were mainly empty
cans of drinks of beverages used by patients, staff and visitors
at the hospital. Plastics and cans have a high potential
to be recycled. This is important, especially because the
National government policy emphasis on all forms of waste
is on reclamation and recycling. However, the opportunity
to recycle or reclaim any plastics and cans generated at the
hospitals is missed.
The current practice is that all plastics and cans are collected
in the same containers used for any other form of
general waste in mixed form (black plastic bags), and are
then sent to a landfill. The hospital waste management at
the hospital therefore needs to introduce a scheme whereby
all recyclable material is disposed and collected in separate
containers. The containers need to be clearly marked and
made available in all strategic areas within the hospital.
Some other studies have emphasized the involvement of
generators in any recycling program (Salhofer and Isaac,
2002; Garces et al., 2002). This demands proper public edu-