HOSPITAL WASTE – LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK AND MANAGEMENT DIFFERENTIATIONS IN AUSTRIA, BELGIUM, GERMANY AND GREECE

Abstract

In this paper, the differences regarding hospital waste management, specifically regarding the legal and technical situation and the definition of hazardous hospital waste in four member states (Austria, Belgium, Germany and Greece) are presented. All countries follow the legal guidelines of the European Union, but the technical situation, especially the possibilities for thermal waste disposal in incineration plants are different. Also, the definition and categories of hazardous medical wastes is different in the aforementioned four EU member states. The annual production amounts of medical waste in selected countries are presented, as well as criteria that lead to their classification as hazardous medical waste.