Incineration of hospital waste not the best - Expert

Accra (Greater Accra) 27 July '99

Professor Dr Luc Hens, Head of the Human Ecology Department of the Vrije University, Brussels, on Monday condemned the incineration of hospital wastes.

He said the argument advanced by leaders that hospital wastes are pathogenic does not wholly hold.

Not all hospital wastes are pathogenic. Most hospitals produce paper and computer waste, which must be separated and disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner, Professor Hens said at the opening of a five-day seminar on environmental management for corporate institutions in Accra.

Participants are from the Ghana Breweries Limited, Ghana Cement Company, Guinness Ghana Limited, Twifo Oil Palm Plantation and Cocoa Processing Company.

It is organised by the International Centre for Enterprise and Sustainable (ICED) Development in collaboration with the Human Ecology Department of the Vrije University.

It aims at providing a broader understanding of environmental economics and management, sustainable development as well as help adopt appropriate strategies to ensure higher environmental standards in West Africa.

He also criticised the "over usage of plastic products" in developing countries, saying packaging is growing at the expense of the environment and called for a critical analysis of the situation.

Its better "we do with less and rather recycle" the plastic waste.

Professor Emmanuel Boon, Chairman of ICED, said industries should ensure that their products do not pollute the environment.

He called on policy makers to integrate environmental management and sustainability in development policies.