1. MEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT
Ministry of Environmental Protection, Physical Planning and Construction
MINISTARSTVO ZAŠTITE OKOLIŠA, PROSTORNOG UREĐENJA I GRADITELJSTVA
MEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT
IN CROATIA
Gordana Vešligaj, Waste sector,
Ministry of Environmental protection, physical planning and construction, Zagreb - Croatia

2. LEGISLATION
Instruction on handling waste originated during providing the health care (OG 50/00)
by Ministry of Health and Social Care
Waste Act (OG 178/04, 111/06)
Strategy of Waste Management in the Republic of Croatia (OG 130/05)
Waste Management Plan in the Republic of Croatia
for the period (OG 85/07)
Ordinance on medical waste management (OG 72/07)
by Ministry of Environmental protection, physical planning and construction

3. 86% 14% MEDICAL WASTE NON - HAZARDOUS MEDICAL WASTE HAZARDOUS
Mostly similar to municipal
waste:
paper and cardboard
packaging
glass
food remains etc.
infectious
chemical waste containing
hazardous substances
used sharp objects
citotoxics and citostatics
dental amalgam waste and
other hazardous waste
86%
14%

4. PRODUCERS OF MEDICAL WASTE
Legal or natural persons involved in any activity generating medical waste
MAJOR SOURCES
MINOR SOURCES
> 200 kg/year
≤ 200 kg/year
hospitals
medical centres etc.
as general practitioner offices
convalescent homes
old people's and nursing homes
tattoo and piercing salons
acupuncture offices and salons
veterinarian’s offices etc.

5. disinfection/sterilization
TREATMENT OF INFECTIOUS MEDICAL WASTE
PHYSICAL
PROCEDURES
CHEMICAL
TREATMENT
treatment with
gaseous fumigants
thermal treatment
disinfection
sterilization
disinfection/sterilization

6. THERMAL STERILIZATION AND DISINFECTION
The product of sterilization is sterile, dry, crushed and unidentifiable mass.
Energy value: kJ/kg ( kcal/kg)
The product of disinfection is wet material that will be packed in bags.
Ideal procedure would be energy recovery.

7. MANAGEMENT OF OTHER TYPES OF POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS MEDICAL WASTE
Pharmaceutical, cytotoxic
and chemical or similar
hazardous waste
incineration
Used sharps
The same way as infectious waste
incineration in crematories
burial at cemeteries
human
Pathological waste
in accordance with special regulations
animal

8. CURRENT SITUATION IN CROATIA
Clinical hospital Dubrava – Zagreb
General hospital Vinkovci
2 internal incineration plants
Čakovec (hospital)
Zagreb
Sisak (hospital)
Županja
Osijek
5 sterilization plants
Incineration plant for hazardous waste – Sisak
Cement factory in Split
Cement factory in Koromačno
Cement factory in Našice
4 potential energy recovery plants
Zagreb
Rijeka
2 disinfection plants

9. OBLIGATIONS The producer of medical waste shall ensure:
separate collection,
record keeping,
storage in appropriate containers,
temporary storage in specially separated areas until treatment or delivery,
take over medical waste generated by home care and similar activities generating medical waste.
The employees of home care institutions, home health agencies and institutions engaged in similar activities shall take over medical waste generated by their activities for its treatment, recovery and/or disposal.
Pharmacies shall take over expired medical products and similar pharmaceutical waste irrespective of its origin.

10. hazardous medical waste
ESTIMATED QUANTITIES OF MEDICAL WASTE
IN TOTAL: 19,500 tons per year
hazardous medical waste
2,700 tons per year
About 50 to 60% of hazardous medical waste ends up in treatment which amounts to about 1,500 tons per year.
Residual amounts ends up in export for treatment or disposal.

11. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION