The Unfortunate Future Incineration Promises Us

Advanced medical systems and the fast evolving of disposal methods of Medical Waste in developing countries, has resulted in the need for incineration.

The need for incineration is due to the advanced medical system and it is a rapidly expanding disposal method in developing countries. In 2001, The Stockholm Convention was signed and became effective in May 2004. This convention imposes that a country is “obligated to use the best waste disposal method available to them, at the same time, promoting the best available methods to others“.

Environmental Vs Health Risks

Whereas incineration is a proven method to ensure that the Medical Waste, once incinerated it is deemed harmless and no longer a threat, the amount of pollution that it emits in on our already heavily polluted planet, is leading us to a disastrous point of no return. Not to mention that the emissions when inhaled are causing harm to our health as we breathe in dioxins and furans that these incinerators are leaving behind. Sort of defeating the while object of incinerating in the first place, don’t you think? It’s a vicious cycle – nevertheless, one that absolutely needs a solution.

Countless studies show that long term exposure to furans and dioxins increases risk of cancers (in all its forms) by 40%.

What Next?

There is no doubt about the need for incineration, hazardous Medical Waste poses such a threat to us all on so many levels, that we must find ways to eliminate this threat, but without causing other treats. Our landfills are full to the brim, our atmosphere is is dire straits, it is time to develop and focus our resources on affordable, alternative, onsite solutions. This is the only way forward in reducing the issues of emission, storage, handling and the costs of treatment.