Medical Waste Management in Turkey: 2014 Data Released
The Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) has shared the medical waste statistics for the year 2014 with the public. According to the published data, the total amount of medical waste collected across the country was recorded as 74.5 thousand tons.
The management of this waste generated by healthcare facilities is of great importance in terms of environmental health. According to TurkStat data, 68% of the separately collected medical waste was disposed of in sanitary landfills.
Sanitary landfilling ensures that waste is destroyed in a controlled manner without causing harm to the environment and human health. This method aims to minimize potential disease risks by preventing medical waste from mixing with nature.
The proper management of medical waste is seen as a critical step for a sustainable environmental policy. Authorities state that efforts are ongoing to keep the increase in waste volume under control and to improve disposal methods.