Greens call for separate collection of household clinical waste

" Some of the elderly people being cared for have had conditions such as Hepatitis B and MRSA" says de Burca. " The clinical waste that is being generated should be regarded as contaminated, in the same way that it would be if it was generated in a hospital. it should certainly not be mixed with other domestic waste and disposed of into a landfill where it will continue to pose a major public health hazard".

The Green Party is calling for a separate waste collection service to be provided for healthcare or clinical waste that is generated in the home. They point out that such services exist at present in the United Kingdom. "The separate collection service for household clinical waste is provided by the Health Boards in the UK" says de Burca. "Householders are asked to put their clinical waste into yellow sacks which are collected on a separate day from ordinary household waste. This waste is then disposed of in the same way as other non-hazardous hospital waste".

Councillor de Burca claims that the Eastern Regional Health Authority has a responsibility to provide such a service to householders. She points out that carers already bear a significant financial burden with respect to caring for elderly or disabled persons in the home. "Disposing of four or five incontinence pads per day represents a cost for carers which should not have to be borne by them" she says. "In this instance the carer is providing a service that would otherwise have to be provided by the Health Board. The concept of "polluter pays" should not apply in this situation. In fact there are compelling environmental, public health and financial reasons why the Health Board should assume responsibility for collecting healthcare or clinical waste generated by households".

For further information please contact Deirdre de Burca on 086 8061450 or email deburca@wicklowgreens.org.