LETTERS TO EDITORS
Determination of Hospital Waste Composition
and Disposal Methods: a Case Study
1*. S. Altin, 1. A. Altin, 2. B. Elevli, 1. O. Cerit
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1. Cumhuriyet University, Environmental Engineering Department, Sivas - Turkey
2. Dumlupinar University, Mining Engineering Department, Kutahya - Turkey
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2003;12(2):251-255
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
The fundamental information for selecting and designing the most efficient treatment method of hospital
waste is obtained by means of waste composition analysis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to
evaluate the physical and elemental composition of waste in four hospitals in Sivas, Turkey. The results
should help us select and design proper waste disposal. During the study period it was estimated that the
daily waste generation rate of four hospitals was 985 kg/day, projected to be 1267 kg/day in 2015. Furthermore,
analysis indicated that the moisture content of wastes was 14,2 % . The four hospital wastes consist
of 92% combustible wastes and 8% noncombustible wastes by mass. The combustible wastes constitute
paper (16%), textiles (10,2%), cardboard (4%), plastics (41,2%) and food waste (17%). Since the ratio of
combustible waste is high, the incineration method has been suggested as a proper disposal method.