Journal of School of Public Health and

Background and Aim: Inadequate management of biomedical waste can be associated with risks to healthcare workers, patients, communities and their environment. In this study a comprehensive survey was conducted to obtain information on the management of solid wastes in Qom hospitals.

Materials and Methods: Field visits were made to 2 private and 4 governmental hospitals to collect the required information and weighing the solid wastes generated. In addition, supplementary information was collected using a modified World Health Organization questionnaire.

Results: The results showed total the average generation rate of solid waste in Qom hospitals was 3057.55 kg/day. The shares of general, infectious, sharp, and pharmaceutical and chemical solid wastes were 1523.6, 1520.6, 12.72 and 0.93 kg/day, respectively. The results on various aspects of solid waste management indicate that practices in the hospitals do not comply with the principles stated in the respective Iranian regulations. Similarly, the segregation process was inefficient. No information was available concerning the quantity and quality of solid wastes.

Conclusion: Development of suitable waste management schemes and plans are strongly recommended. In addition, establishing training programs on proper waste management for all the personnel involved (managers, physicians, nurses, workers) are essential. These actions, plus effective supervision, will result in considerable reductions in hospital solid waste disposal cost