Clinical waste shot up by 43.8%

Spiked amount: Covid-19 clinical waste collected from healthcare facilities include those from vaccination centres like the Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre PPV. – IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star

WE are moving towards endemicity now, but the trail of clinical waste left behind during the Covid-19 pandemic continues to heap up.

The total weight of clinical waste in Malaysia has spiked by 43.8% last year compared to the previous year.

From 39,883 tonnes in 2020, the number swelled to a total of 57,361 tonnes last year, the Department of Environment (DOE) tells Sunday Star.

Needles, test swabs, body fluids, personal protective equipment (PPE) are just some examples of such clinical waste collected from healthcare facilities.

“As of Feb this year, 6,002 tonnes of clinical waste were generated in Malaysia,” it says, calling the production of such waste during the pandemic as “exceptionally high.”

“Due to this, Malaysia is now facing problems in terms of storage and disposal of these wastes.

“In response to this, DOE has reviewed and considered the applications for the installation of mobile incinerators.

“We have also looked into more applications for temporary storage of such waste,” the department adds.

Currently, 13 temporary approvals have been given for mobile incinerators and temporary storages to cope with the growing amount of waste.

“All clinical wastes should be disposed of by incineration,” it says.

Any waste generated from the health facilities during the Covid-19 pandemic period is categorised as clinical waste or its code SW 404.

“To further define clinical wastes, the Health Ministry has included any waste which consists wholly or partly of human tissues, blood or other body fluids and excretions,” the DOE says.

Other examples of clinical wastes are drugs or other pharmaceutical products, swabs or dressings, syringes, needles or other sharp instruments which may prove hazardous to any person coming into contact with it.

The list also includes any other waste which may cause infection to any person coming into contact with the item.

This can be from the medical, nursing, dental, veterinary, pharmaceutical field or similar practices.

The waste produced from an investigation, treatment, care, teaching, research or the collection of blood for transfusion is also considered as clinical waste.

Last year, it was reported all licensed facilities treating clinical waste were now operating “at full and beyond their capacity” due to the heavy load of such waste.

The increase in clinical waste due to Covid-19 has generated backlogs in such premises.

Currently, there are eight licensed premises in the country, with five appointed by the government.

To deal with the issue, the department has given temporary approval to licensed facilities to set up mobile incinerators to expedite the treatment of clinical wastes.