Waste

Waste is a significant issue within the health sector. It is a visible reminder of the greenhouse gas emissions and resource consumption within the health system supply chain. We must manage waste to ensure environmental impacts from disposal are minimised.

The Department of Health supports the Victorian Government’s Recycling Victoria: A new economy and is working to reduce waste and move towards a circular economy model within the health system.

It is estimated that in the 2022-23 financial year Victorian public health services generated over 42,000 tonnes of solid waste, of which 8,600 tonnes was recycled.

Effective waste management provides opportunities to reduce operational costs, environmental impacts and potential health risks to staff and patients.

Clinical waste is waste generated by health services and other industries that has potential to cause disease or injury.

There are different streams of clinical waste, including:

Anatomical, pharmaceutical and cytotoxic wastes must be separated and disposed of through high temperature incineration to reduce risks to people and the environment.
Sharps and other clinical waste that is contaminated by exposure to communicable diseases and blood or bodily fluids needs to be sterilised before disposal.

Appropriate and effective management requires: