Though residue after sterilization or disinfection are regarded as general wastes in many countries, there can be many disposal options in Korea by the by-laws of local landfill sites, especially giving negative effects. So, double treatments for infectious wastes are threathening related industries and medical institutes which are the consumers of medical waste treatment and disposal.
In this research, we evaluated 3 treatment technologies, incineration, steam sterilization, microwave disinfection, including transport and final disposal using LCA and cost analysis. Most of all, microwave disinfection system is cheapest and most environmental friendly. When residues after sterilization or disinfection are treated and disposed at special waste disposal site, incineration could be relatively more economical and environmental friendly.
And fuel used or saved are very sensitive to the environmental impact. Especially, the usage of diesel for steam generation of steam sterilization are very critical to that facility's total impact. Transports of each residue to disposal sites are not critical impact but somewhat important for life-cycle cost.
For more efficient management of infectious waste stream, we designed conceptually management information system(MIS) with bar-code input system and proposed improvements in medical waste management. Furthermore, it can be harmonized with goegraphical information system(GIS) and drugs point of sale(POS) system and be used as a managerial tool for whole life cycles of medical waste.
