At least 45 000 tonnes of healthcare waste are produced annually in this country, much of it being disposable plastic products, and while a percentage of these are actually suitable for recycling if they’re uncontaminated, setting up recycling programmes in a hospital presents several challenges, reports BusinessTech.
This is according to a recent report from A-Thermal, a local company that specialises in the treatment of healthcare risk waste, which showed that in Gauteng, 79% of surveyed healthcare facilities have formal waste management plans, but only only 20.5% of these facilities have active strategies in place to minimise waste at the source.
As a result, large quantities of valuable medical-grade plastics are frequently discarded, which, the company said, can be recycled, provided they remain free from biological contamination.
This includes:
• Polypropylene (PP): Sterilisation wraps and trays
• Polyethylene (PE) & PVC: Tubing, flexible films, and IV bags
• PET, Polystyrene, & Polycarbonate: Rigid containers and components
The group said items such as syringes and infusion sets have significant recycling potential when separated immediately at the point of use, thereby preventing their mixing with hazardous waste, but establishing recycling programmes in a hospital setting faces a number of hurdles.
Many plastics are automatically classified as healthcare risk waste (HCRW) because of their potential contact with bodily fluids, and thereafter, have to be disposed of using costly methods like incineration or autoclaving, rather than being recycled.
Also, medical devices are made from combinations of different plastics, metals, or adhesives, making them difficult to sort and recycle, and additionally, recycled plastics often fail to meet the strict sterility and safety standards required for manufacturing new devices, meaning they must be redirected to non-medical applications.
Violations could mean millions in fines
The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment released an updated draft Waste Act earlier this year, aimed at enforcing strict control, traceability, and accountability throughout the entire lifecycle of medical waste, and making it clear that healthcare facilities must take active measures to ensure any waste transporters and managers are fully compliant, and that all on-site storage areas comply with general controls.
Among other things, transportation of waste from the point of generation to any temporary or permanent storage, treatment, or disposal facility must also adhere to strict requirements, controls, and timeframes.
The draft norms do not currently address how they will integrate with existing provincial policies, such as those in Gauteng and the Western Cape, or the HCRW norms previously gazetted under the National Health Act in October 2025.
Facilities currently operating legally under an existing Waste Management Licence (WML) may continue to operate, but must align with the new norms upon the review or renewal of their licence.
Any hospitals or institutions that don’t require a WML must achieve full compliance within six months of the standards taking effect, with failure to do so being considered a criminal offence. Potential penalties could include fines of up to R5m, imprisonment for up to five years, or both.
BusinessTech article – South Africa dumping 45,000 tonnes of medical waste every year (Open access)
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Frere Hospital denies dumping medical waste
EP Health agrees to stop dumping medical waste in municipal landfills