Guinea Small Medical Waste Incinerator:

Title: Guinea’s Small Medical Waste Incinerator: A Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly Solution to Healthcare Waste Management

In Guinea, like many parts of Africa, the availability of waste management infrastructure lags behind the growing number of healthcare facilities and densely populated cities. The traditional methods of disposing of waste, such as dumping on open lands or burning directly, not only pose immediate health risks to the affected communities but also contribute significantly to climate change. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), healthcare wastes, particularly infectious and high-risk wastes, require specially designed treatment facilities to maintain public health and safety standards.

Guinea’s public health authorities have recognized the urgent need for a small medical waste incinerator that can effectively manage limited volumes of healthcare waste with minimal environmental impact. Located in Conakry, the capital city, these small medical waste incinerators provide a sustainable alternative to open burning and offer a solution to the prevailing waste disposal challenges.

The Importance of Proper Waste Disposal

Properly managing healthcare waste is of utmost importance to prevent illnesses and death, as millions of people worldwide are dying from healthcare-associated infections attributed to contaminated waste. Sickness is often linked to poor hygiene practices, human error, and inadequate or non-existent waste management during healthcare processes. The careless disposal of medical waste facilitates the transmission of diseases to healthcare workers, patients, and community members.

Pathogens in healthcare waste:

1. Blood pathogens: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV & HCV) are frequent contaminants.
2. Bacteria: Multi-resistant bacteria like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and extended spectrum beta lactamase-positive (ESBL) microbes.
3. Toxins: Chemical constituents from contaminated needles, used syringes, gauzes, and linens.
4. Radioactive waste: X-ray film, radiation shields, and contaminated instruments create a health risk.

Effects of poor waste disposal methods:

1. Flies: Attracted by organic matter, they transmute germs to produce more mosquitoes, increasing malarial and dengue fever transmission.
2. Pests and rodents: Contaminating food sources and spreading human diseases through direct contact.

Benefits of Small Medical Waste Incinerators

Combining incineration efficiency with sustainable energy production capabilities, Guinea’s small medical waste incinerators make a valuable contribution to their community.

1. Infectious waste remediation: The incinerator can effectively reduce risk by thermal destruction of biosolids, eliminating diseases.
2. Cost-effective: Operating costs may be reduced due to utilizing local biofuels to generate power.
3. Landfill diversion: Minimizing waste transferred to already strained landfills.
4. Combustion byproducts usage: Harnessing heat production for applications like sterilizers, washing facilities, water heating, or even producing steam.
5. Scalability: Multiple units can be installed without compromising site requirements.

Process of Medical Waste Incineration

1. Sorting: Separate medical from non-medical waste.

2. Segregating hazardous waste: Biohazards, pathogens, radioactive materials, broken glass, and sharp supplies are separately handled.

3. Loading the equipment: Properly loaded wastes ensure even combustion and complete destruction of pathogens.

4. Incinerating: Using a controlled atmospheric process at temperatures above 1000°C, inactivates all pathogens for at least 3 milliseconds.

5. Capture of toxic gases: Carbon monoxide, hydrogen and volatile organic compounds (gases with hazardous properties that could accumulate and pose explosion risks or be released for the air).

6.Discharge of cleaned residual ash (if so equipped with air pollution scrubbers):

* *Non-radioactive ash could be transported to landfills, in a secure liner.

* *Any remaining residual ash, whether radioactive or non-radioactive, might be disposed per local authorities' guidelines with environmental, health, public and social concerns in forefront.

Operational Considerations

The success of waste incineration depends primarily on operator training, adhering to proper operating standard procedures (SOP).

1. Operator accreditation: Guinea’s authorities verify operators with proper training as a testament to their country’s responsibility.
   2.Continuous emission monitoring * (CSEM): Ongoing performance tracking and fine-tuning adjustments ensure minimization of environmental impact at all stages.

FAQ’s

1. Cost of Incineration Per Ton: Varies substantially, averaging $150/t (with local biofueled power generation offsetting the costs).

2. Wear and Tear Replacement Parts Timeframe: Average lifespan expected: 10- to 20-year periods until significant, major repairs start.

3. Minimum Volume Incineration Facilities Can Accommodate Monthly: As low as an estimated 0.002 kg or 0,0044 lbs of pathological waste material.

4. Average Time Elapsed Since Installation: Six years to ensure reliable stability in air pollution emission capture, air flow control design, regular maintenance and cleaning schedules.