Healthcare Waste Report - Environment Health

POLICIES AND LEGISLATION
RA 6969: “Toxic Substances and Hazardous
and Nuclear Waste Control Act of 1990”, is at
present, the only legislation in the Philippines
that regulates healthcare waste. The
implementing rules and regulations, under the
Department Administrative Order (DAO)
2004-36, classifies healthcare waste under
Miscellaneous Waste with waste number
M501 assigned to pathological wastes (tissues,
organs foetuses, bloods and body fluids),
infectious wastes and sharps and waste
number M503 assigned to expired
pharmaceutical and drugs.
RA 8749: “The Philippine Clean Air Act of
1999” under the DAO 2000-81, allows only
non-burn technologies to be used in the
destruction, treatment and disposal of
healthcare and hazardous wastes. The allowed
non-burn technologies are to comply with the
criteria and emission standards on non-burn
technologies provided in Rule 28 of DAO
2000-81. Non-burn technologies include
thermal treatment i.e., pyrolysis, autoclave,
hydroclave, microwave and sterilization.
Section 20 of RA8749 provides the regulatory
“Ban on Incineration” of municipal,
healthcare and hazardous wastes.
CHAPTER 3_COUNTRY ANALYSIS
In an effort to strengthen and streamline
policies, rules and regulations on healthcare
waste management, the JAO 2005-02,
“Policies and Guidelines on Effective and
Proper Handling, Collection, Transport,
Treatment, Storage and Disposal of
Healthcare Wastes” was issued by the DENR
and DoH on 24 August 2005. The objectives
of the JAO 2005-02 are to provide guidelines
to generators, transporters and owners or
operators of treatment, storage, disposal
(TSD) facilities on proper HCWM. It clarifies
the jurisdiction, authority and responsibilities
of the DENR and DoH and harmonizes the
efforts of the DENR and DoH on proper
healthcare waste management. The JAO is
issued pursuant to the following laws, rules
and regulations:
Clean Air Act of 1999 (RA 8749)
Toxic Substances and Hazardous and
Nuclear Waste Control Act of 1990 (RA
6969)
Ecological Solid Waste Management Act
of 2000 (RA 9003)
Refuse Disposal of the Sanitation Code of
the Philippines [Chapter XVIII,
Implementing Rules and Regulations,
Presidential Decree 856]
Clean Water Act of 2004 (RA 9275)
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
System (PD 1586)
Hospital Licensure Act (RA 4226)
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PHILIPPINES