Hospital Waste Management is a project started with the sole objective of stopping recycling and reuse of clinical waste such as syringes and other disposables. The recycling of clinical waste results in spread of typhoid, Hepatitis B, C,HIV and epidemics. In addition to this, many health care providers and diagnostic centres throw contagious waste on the roadside or in municipality containers.

To overcome the above mentioned menace of hospital waste disposal in Lahore, a non- profit company was registered in June 2000 for the proper handling of the Hospital Waste. Shalamar Hospital has the honour of executing this project- first ever in Pakistan.

Under its supervision two incinerators each having the capacity of 1600 Kgs/Shift have been installed at the two hospitals i.e. Shalamar and United Christian Hospital. These incinerators were donated by the Government of Netherlands and inaugurated by the then Minister for Environment, Government of the Punjab on the 19 th of June 2000. Custom made collection vehicles have also been provided to collect the bio medical waste from the health care providers and pharmaceutical companies who have been registered as members of the user club. A nominal fee is charged to all the members to cover the cost of the collection and incineration of the Bio Medical Waste. Currently, 170 Hospitals, Labs and Pharmaceuticals companies including 10 Government Hospitals are using this facility. The company has successfully completed five years of Bio Medical Waste disposal services.

The incineration plant is working under capacity and is burning average 1,500/- Kgs bio medical waste per day.

The main aims of the Hospital Waste Management Company are to:

1. reduce the recyclable infectious clinical waste and
2. educate medical and non- medical professionals in proper biomedical waste management.

About 200 Training Workshops and Lectures have been delivered to develop understanding on the hazards of hospital waste in approximately 15,000 health related professionals. Following areas are focused while conducting such courses.

1. Reduction in the spread of infectious diseases mainly contributing to the reduction of mortality.
2. Almost no reuse of medical disposal.
3. Collection of waste and disposal service at the doorstep of registered members.
4. Positive projection of hospital through our newsletters, posters and other activities.
5. Conducting refresher courses.
6. Assisting all members in working as environment friendly.