The Workshop
Medical Waste Fresco is a collaborative workshop designed to help participants understand the complex lifecycle of medical waste and its environmental and health impacts. The workshop guides participants through the generation, segregation, treatment, and disposal of healthcare waste, helping them grasp the scale and importance of proper medical waste management. Through collective intelligence, participants understand different waste categories and learn about sustainable approaches to reducing medical waste impacts.
Why It Matters
Healthcare facilities generate substantial quantities of waste - approximately 700,000 tons annually in France alone, representing about one ton per hospital bed per year - and managing this waste safely is essential for protecting public health and the environment. While about 85% of healthcare waste is non-hazardous, the remaining 15% consists of infectious, chemical, and potentially radioactive materials that require specialized handling. Understanding medical waste management is crucial for healthcare workers, facility managers, and policymakers to ensure safe practices and identify reduction opportunities.
Good to Know
Healthcare facilities generate diverse waste streams segregated using color-coded bins: general waste comparable to household refuse; infectious waste from medical activities (DASRI) including syringes and sharp objects; chemical and pharmaceutical waste from cleaning products and expired medications; and recyclable materials like glass and plastic packaging. In France, healthcare facilities generate approximately 700,000 tons of waste annually. Of total healthcare waste produced, approximately 85% is general waste not considered dangerous, while 15% consists of hazardous materials requiring specialized treatment and disposal.
What to Expect
The workshop guides participants through understanding the complete medical waste lifecycle beginning at the source in healthcare facilities where waste is segregated into different categories. The process traces waste management through collection using specialized containers, transportation to treatment facilities, treatment methods (such as incineration or sterilization), and final disposal. Participants learn how different waste streams are handled differently based on their composition and hazard level, and explore opportunities for waste reduction and improved management practices within healthcare settings.