Sometimes it seems the easiest way to get rid of a problem is to burn it up. Modern clinical waste incinerators, properly managed, deal effectively with a wide range of clinical waste. Suitably designed and run municipal waste incinerators may also be authorised to deal with certain types of low risk waste, which is fed in sealed packages independently of the municipal waste stream.

In the past, most hospitals operated their own incinerators, not always to the highest standards. Hospital incinerators now have to meet new and demanding emission standards.

The number of major incinerators treating clinical waste in England and Wales has gone down from approximately 700 to 37 in 2000. The majority of these larger incinerators, which may be situated in hospitals, are now operated by private sector specialist companies

The Waste Incineration Directive 2000/76/EC has introduced stringent operating conditions and sets minimum technical requirements for waste incineration and co-incineration. The requirements of the Directive have been developed to reflect the ability of incineration plants to more cost effectively achieve high standards of emission control in comparison to the 1980s. It covers virtually all waste incineration and co-incineration plants.

The main aim of the Directive is to prevent and limit negative environmental effects by emissions into air, soil, surface and ground-water, and the resulting risks to human health, from the incineration and co-incineration of waste. It is not of itself concerned with the place of incineration in waste management strategies, but with ensuring that incinerators continue to be tightly regulated.

Continue on through this EVC section to learn more about air pollution control requirements and monitoring practices that may apply to your clinical waste incinerator.