Article
Potential Environmental Risks from Home Healthcare-Generated Municipal Solid Waste in Texas
International Journal of Business, Humanities and Technology
(2014)
Abstract
Current hazardous waste disposal policies in the Home Health Care setting were evaluated as it related to the
need for better regulation of hazardous materials entering residential waste streams. It was found that all waste
materials from home care visits with the exception of “sharps,” were placed directly into residential waste
streams. Therefore, large volumes of potentially hazardous waste go undetected annually to municipal
incinerators along with ordinary household refuse. Accordingly, the application of established TCEQ regulations
to the home health environment is critical to protecting the public and the environment from possible harm. At the
least, some home care waste should also be included in the list of household hazardous waste. The urgency for
improved disposal methods is due to increasing the volumes of potentially hazardous materials and increased
risks to public health and environment from toxic leachates and incinerator by-products.
Keywords
- Home heathcare,
- plastics,
- hazardous waste,
- wase disposal,
- public health
Disciplines
Publication Date
Spring May, 2014
Citation Information
Andrea Oyewole, Bobby L. Wilson, John B. Sapp and Olusegun Oyewole. "Potential Environmental Risks from Home Healthcare-Generated Municipal Solid Waste in Texas" International Journal of Business, Humanities and Technology Vol. 4 Iss. 3 (2014) p. 6 - 12 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/andrea-ashley-oyewole/4/