A Simple Method for Differentiating Hazardous from Non-Hazardous Solid Medical Waste Contaminated with Pathogens

Solid medical waste generated during patient care and contaminated with pathogens is generally classified as hazardous. It must be managed in accordance with a strict legal framework, including special packaging and mandatory destruction by incineration. In this paper, we focus on the potential health impact of this medical waste on employees who handle it. Using a simple algorithm based on pathogen properties, we describe a flexible method for distinguishing hazardous from non-hazardous medical waste and conclude on the risk to employees. The procedure involves constructing a two-dimensional Coordinate system, where the x-axis represents the WHO scoring system, ranging from I to IV for disease severity and where the y-axis represents a quantitative score for pathogenicity. This score is obtained by answering and quantifying a sequence of questions, only if the pathogen survives outside the host: transmission of the disease linked to the pathogen through body fluids, mode of entry into a potential victim, and infectious dose. The resulting coordinates of each pathogen enable an objective assessment of its risk to waste handlers. By applying rational threshold values, the approach allows for data-driven classification of waste as either equivalent to household waste or genuinely hazardous. Implementing this method could lead to a significant reduction in hazardous waste without compromising the health of waste handlers.