This guideline has been developed for healthcare services managers, planners, architects, building design professionals, waste officers, regional directors, program managers, senior management, environmental services staff, clinical and non-clinical staff, engineers, user groups and contractors. It will assist in designing sustainable waste management systems and provide guidance for responding to waste management issues in hospitals associated with planning, construction and ongoing waste management systems for handling waste and recyclable materials.
The waste management guideline sets out best practice approaches to on-site waste minimisation and waste management. The purpose of the waste management guideline is to:
Obligation for designers:
To allow for proper handling and movement of waste in healthcare facilities the following will need to be considered in terms of space, storage, safety as well as handling of goods and movement of waste management.
Section 28 the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 states that:
A person who designs a building or structure or part of a building or structure who knows, or ought reasonably to know, that the building or structure or the part of the building or structure is to be used as a workplace must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that it is designed to be safe and without risks to the health of persons using it as a workplace for a purpose for which it was designed.
Waste management in healthcare facilities
Key stakeholders
New/redevelopment capital programs
Operation and maintenance programs
Management
Key objectives in establishing waste management systems for healthcare
Consultation
The Design Team
It is important for hospital designers to discuss the waste management approach within the facility (such as with environmental services staff, contract managers, infection control staff, waste officers and engineers) to determine issues such as:
| Category | Definition | Source of definition |
| Best practice | A process, technique, or innovative use of technology, equipment or resources that has a proven record of success in providing significant improvement in cost, schedule, quality, performance, safety, environment or other measurable factors that impact on an organisation. | SV |
| Clinical and related waste | Waste that has the potential to cause injury or infection and includes sharps, human tissue waste, laboratory waste or any waste arising from any source, as specified by an appropriate infection control officer. Also includes dental/veterinary research or treatment that has the potential to cause disease. Related wastes are defined as waste within the waste stream that constitute, or are contaminated with, cytotoxic drugs, chemicals or pharmaceuticals. | ANZCWMIG |
| Collection | The act of removing accumulated waste from the generating source. | ANZCWMIG |
| Commingled materials | Materials all mixed together, such as plastic bottles with glass and metal containers. Commingled recyclable materials require sorting after collection before they can be recycled. | SV |
| Composting | A process of biologically degrading organic materials in the presence of oxygen, yielding carbon dioxide, heat and stabilised organic residues that may be used as a soil additive. | SV |
| Container | This refers to any rigid walled receptacle designed for the deposit of clinical and related waste (or other wastes). | ANZCWMIG |
| Cytotoxic waste | Materials that are, or may be, contaminated with a cytotoxic drug during the preparation, transport or administration of cytotoxic therapy. | ANZCWMIG |
| Incineration | Combustion (by chemical oxidation) of waste material to treat or dispose of that waste material. | SV |
| Healthcare facilities | Generator of clinical and related wastes such as hospital, medical, nursing, pharmaceutical or similar practice. | ANZCWMIG |
| Kerbside collection | Collection of household recyclable materials (separated or commingled) that are left at the kerbside for collection by local council collection services. | SV |
| Off-site | A clinical and related waste treatment, storage and disposal facility that is located away from the generating site. | ANZCWMIG |
| On-site | A clinical and related waste treatment, storage or disposal facility that is located on the generating site. | ANZCWMIG |
| Organics | Plant or animal matter originating from domestic or industrial sources, such as grass clippings, tree prunings and food wastes. | SV |
| Plastic | One of many high-polymeric substances, including both natural and synthetic products, but excluding rubbers. At some stage in its manufacture every plastic is capable of flowing, under heat and pressure, if necessary, into the desired final shape. | SV |
| Recycling | A term that may be used to cover a wide range of activities including collection, sorting, reprocessing and manufacture into new products. | SV |
| Resource recovery | The process of obtaining matter or energy from discarded materials. | SV |
| Category | Definition | Source of definition |
| Re-use | The second-highest option in the waste hierarchy – recovering value from a discarded resource without reprocessing or remanufacture such as garments sold though opportunity shops strictly represent a form of re-use, rather than recycling. | SV |
| Rubbish (general waste) | Any waste (excluding recyclable materials) not classified as being within any categories of the clinical waste and related waste stream. | ANZCWMIG |
| Sharps | Objects or devices having sharp points or protuberances or cutting edge capable of piercing the skin or container in which they are packaged. | ANZCWMIG |
| Source separation | Separation of recyclable material from other waste at the point and time the waste is generated (at its source). This includes separation of recyclable material into its component categories, such as paper, glass, aluminium, and may include further separation within each category, such as paper into computer paper, office whites and newsprint. The practice of segregating materials into discrete materials streams prior to collection by or delivery to reprocessing facilities. | SV |
| Stakeholders | Parties having an interest in a particular project or outcome. | SV |
| Waste | This term usually refers to any material (liquid, solid or gaseous) that is produced by domestic households and commercial, institutional, municipal or industrial organisations, and which cannot be collected and recycled in any way for further use. For solid wastes, the term may describe materials that currently go to landfill, even though some of the material is potentially recyclable. | SV |
| Waste management | Practices and procedures that relate to how the waste is dealt with. | SV |
| Waste minimisation | Techniques to keep waste generation at a minimum level in order to divert materials from landfill and thereby reduce the requirement for waste collection, handling and disposal to landfill. The term is also applied to recycling and other efforts to reduce the amount of waste going into the waste stream. | SV |
SV = Sustainability Victoria
ANZCWMIG = Australian and New Zealand Clinical Waste Management Industry Group
This guideline has been prepared indicating principals required for waste management aspects of healthcare facilities including:
All areas
All areas of a facility must provide designated containment requirements of the following attributes:
- waste containers such as skips, wheelie bins, bucket bins, sharps containers, cages for storing the following, but not limited to:
- rubbish (general waste)
- recycling (full and partial commingled)
- confidential paper waste
- redundant (hard waste) materials for re-use
- sharps waste
- clinical waste
- related wastes
- materials such as cardboard must be appropriately compacted or baled
- waste container colours should be aligned with Australian standard AS 4123.7 and ANZCWMIG Industry code of practice for the management of clinical and related waste – 5th edition 2007.
All areas
Space
Sufficient space in the facility areas must be provided for waste containers and equipment as well as waste likely to generate on the premises between collection periods.
When designing waste storage areas in healthcare facilities, designation of the following locations needs to be considered.
Ward/department disposal areas
There is a requirement for sufficient space to be designated within the ward/department disposal area for waste containers and waste generated between collection periods.
Central bulk disposal areas
There is a requirement in the central bulk disposal areas to provide separate designated areas for:
• clean, empty or used waste containers
• secure areas
• temperature-controlled areas
• caged storage areas
Location of Waste Containers
All areas
There is a requirement for all disposal areas to be well located for:
Design Aspects of Waste Storage Areas
Ward/department disposal areas – point of production
There is a requirement in the ward/departments for secure disposal area sufficient in size to allow for waste to be separated. The ward/department disposal area should provide adequate for space for:
Central bulk disposal areas
Central bulk disposal areas for should support the following attributes when planning waste storage areas. It should be noted that central storage areas should be sited away from food preparation, storage areas and walkways used by the public.
Clean, empty or used waste container area should be adequately sized to provide enough space for:
Secure areas should provide enough space for some clinical waste materials such as sharps and cytotoxic waste that require storage in secure areas. These areas should be adequately sized to provide enough space for:
• adequate ventilation to prevent build-up of odours
• clear signage and labelling on all door and entrances
• spill response kit.
Caged storage areas are required for storage of larger items or materials with inherent value such as mattresses, electronic equipment, desks, chairs and office equipment for example. These items must be stored in a caged storage area to reduce the risk of OHS issues arising. These areas should be adequately sized to provide enough space for:
Other design attributes to consider in central bulk storage areas include the following:
Bin servicing or repair areas should be adequately sized to provide enough space for:
Bin washing facilities must include taps. In addition:
There is a requirement for all waste disposal areas to consider accessibility and movement of waste containers. Design shall allow for adequate vehicle access, manoeuvring and loading into collection vehicles as well as visual screening from public areas.
Noise
Noise affecting staff, patient, visitors, public and surrounding properties should be considered when choosing location of all waste storage areas.Lighting
Sufficient lighting must be provided.Ventilation and odours
• There should be adequate ventilation to prevent build up of odours.
• All disposal areas must have their own extraction ventilation system.
• Mechanical exhaust systems shall comply with AS1668 and not cause any inconveniences, noise or odour problems.Water supply and hydraulics
A floor waste basket trap connected to the sewer is required within central waste containment areas. A tap facility should also be provided.
Size of Storage Areas
All areas
Site and access to collection locations
Central bulk disposal area
There is a requirement on the site of the facility for providing suitable locations for loading and unloading clean or dirty materials such as used waste containers such as skips, wheelie bins, sharps containers and cardboard. Containers must be placed in a suitably accessible collection location prior to collection-by-collection contractors. Collection points can include, kerbside, driveway or collection dock where collection trucks have access to enter and turn around. It is not acceptable for a truck to reverse out of a site.
Loading docks
There is a requirement for loading docks to be able to facilitate movement of materials in and out of buildings without creating infection-control issues. Loading docks should have the following characteristics:
Access
User access and collector access to containers
Site access for collection vehicles
Site
Access on collection days
All areas
Access to central bulk disposal areas should be free on collection days. There should be no conflicts with other service, collection or delivery vehicles.
Signage/education
All areas
- All disposal areas should be clearly labelled as ‘Waste Storage Area – Authorised Personnel Only’ on all doors and entrances.
- Standardised signage on how to use the waste management system and what materials area acceptable into the system must be placed in disposal areas. Signage is available from Department of Human Services and Sustainability Victoria.
- All waste containers must be clearly and correctly labelled or coloured to identify which materials are to be placed in which bin.
Safety
Infection control