Estimated Title - Medical Waste Issue - February 1998

Estimated Title - Medical Waste Issue - February 1998

Medical Waste Issue - February 1998

In 1996, the total amount of medical waste generated across Japan reached approximately 360,000 tons, and the market for waste processing remains underdeveloped. Specifically, medical waste such as needles and gauze, which should be handled as infectious waste, is often subject to improper disposal and illegal dumping, with only about 20% of processors properly handling the waste. In Tokyo alone, there are 22 processing companies, but only about 10 of them are considered to be carrying out proper disposal procedures.

The cost of proper disposal is high, at 300–350 yen per kilogram, but currently, it is being handled at the much lower price of 70–80 yen, making proper processing almost impossible. Illegal dumping is rampant because hospitals do not receive compensation for waste disposal through medical service fees, leading them to cut costs wherever possible.

One example of proper processing is Kureha Environmental, which handles 185 tons of medical waste per day using two rotary kiln furnaces that operate 24/7. However, many smaller processors are forced to open medical waste containers that are designed to remain sealed, and they lack the facilities to safely burn waste that includes PVC or mercury, which require specialized equipment to suppress dioxins and hazardous gases.

In response to these issues, Tokyo has established the Medical Waste Proper Disposal Liaison Council, with the participation of departments such as the Health Bureau and Sanitation Bureau. They have organized site visits to model facilities like Kureha Environmental and introduced model contracts for proper disposal, but fundamental solutions have yet to be achieved.