Assessment and selection of the best treatment alternative for infectious waste by Sustainability Assessment of Technologies (SAT) methodology

The objective of this paper was to select the best infectious waste treatment alternative by Sustainability Assessment of Technologies (SAT) methodology. This study was carried in four educational hospitals of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences. The average waste produced in hospitals was 4.7 kg/bed/day. The average of common waste, infectious waste, sharp waste, and chemical and pharmaceutical waste was 2.18, 2.42, 0.04, and 0.05 kg/bed/day, respectively. In detailed assessment, a weighted sum matrix method was used to rank the different technologies of infectious wastes treatment. Finally, the highest score was found for Autoclave with a shredder (64.53), and hydroclave (63.32), autoclave (60.61), central incineration (55.12) and chemical treatment (54.25) were ranked second to fifth, respectively. Most participants emphasized the need for an autoclave with a shredder in the treatment of infectious hospital waste in Ardabil. However, the environmental and economic criteria and other aspects of treatment infectious hospital waste should be considered. Implications: Today health-care wastes (HCWs) have become a substantial public health and environmental concern all over the world, particularly in developing countries. In response to the need for a technology assessment framework to identify and select the best possible environmental technology option, IETC-UNEP developed a new methodology known as Sustainable Assessment of Technologies (SAT). The methodology takes a systems approach and stresses information, expertise and stakeholder participation. In applying this methodology to developing countries, it seems necessary to make some changes on its criteria, based on local conditions.