Volume 14 Number 3 (July to September 2003) - University of the ...

July - September 2003 National Administrative Register 1407
1. Rationale
In response to the publicís clamor for a proper waste disposal system particularly in
Department of Health (DOH) hospitals within Metro Manila, the DOH started a Waste Management
Project in 1997. The project prioritized the installation of Hospital Incinerators and
Microwave Disinfection Units in DOH hospitals with the objective of reducing manipulation of
medical and infectious wastes. The installation of these facilities in DOH hospitals was completed
in the third quarter of 1998 and operations started soon after.
Republic Act (RA) 8749 on ì The Clean Air Actî was passed into law in 1999. Specifically,
section 20 of RA 8749 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) provided for
the prohibition of incineration, which is defined as ìthe burning of municipal, bio-medical
and hazardous wastes, which process emits toxic and poisonous fumesî. In accordance
with the same provision, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
was mandated to ìpromote the use of state-of-the-art, environmentally-sound and safe thermal
and non-burn technology for the handling, treatment, thermal destruction, utilization and
disposal of sorted, un-recycled, un-composted, bio-medical and hazardous wastesî.
This Administrative Order is being issued to prescribe guidelines on the use of crematoria
and other alternative non-burn technology for the treatment and disposal of health care
wastes and which are inconsistent with the provisions of the Clean Air Act.
II. Policy Statement
A. In preparation for the eventual phasing out of incinerators by July 17, 2003, the DOH shall
transform these existing facilities into crematoria. It therefore restricts their use to the treatment
of all untreated human body parts, limbs, organs, and tissues that are removed during
surgery, autopsy or other medical procedures. No other treatment technology shall be utilized
for this type of wastes.
B. The crematoria shall serve as an add-on waste treatment technology to the existing microwave
disinfection units in DOH hospitals. Hence, all concerned DOH hospitals shall maximize
the use of their existing microwave disinfection units for waste treatment.
C. Assessment of all existing DOH hospital incinerators as well as microwave disinfection
units by hospital engineers shall be immediately conducted to determine any need for repair/
reconditioning prior to use as crematoria and/or maximal use for waste treatment.
D. The use of alternative non-burn technology for treatment prior to the disposal of health
care wastes such as infectious wastes, sharps and other hazardous wastes shall be definitely
encouraged.
II. Alternative Non-Burn Technology of Waste Treatment and Disposal for DOH Hospitals
The following alternative non-burn technology on healthcare waste treatment for DOH
hospitals are recommended based on these information: technical description of the available
biomedical waste treatment system, ability of the system to achieve destruction of
pathogenic organisms, investments, operating and maintenance costs considerations, health
and environmental considerations, the Clean Air Act and other regulatory requirements.