**9. Management of nonbiodegradable wastes**

Management of waste involves steps right from the generation to disposal of the treated waste. For nonbiodegradable waste, special care has to be taken during collection, storage, transport, and disposal. All are separated from general biodegradable and nonhazardous waste.

As nonbiodegradable wastes cannot be broken down by decomposers, their disposal poses a grave problem. Nonbiodegradable wastes can be managed by practicing the principle of **4RD**s i.e. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover, and Dispose. The fifth R i.e. Refuse is also very important in controlling HCW.

#### **9.1 Reduce**

The best mode to control pollution is reducing the release of pollutants in the environment, which can be achieved by reducing the usage of polluting materials. Without giving a thought, often more things are utilized than are actually needed resulting in the generation of more quantum of waste. The generation of waste needs to be reduced by reducing the usage of nonbiodegradable waste generating materials. Consume maximum and throw away minimum should be the guiding principle in the selection and utilization of materials in general and nonbiodegradable materials in specific. Thoughtful planning for use of nonbiodegradable materials for minimum waste generation should be the priority of all healthcare activities.

#### **9.2 Reuse**

Increased use of the single-use materials leads to increased generation of waste. Hospitals should try to make it a practice to utilize reusable materials wherever possible. Certain things can be used for more than one purpose and if we reuse them for the same or other purposes, we can reduce the waste generation. This can be employed not only for nonclinical use like eatery and other nonclinical purposes use but also for clinical uses wherever possible. Use glass or metal containers and trays which can be cleaned and even sterilized after every use. Also use cloth gowns and masks instead of plastic protective units in areas where they can be used.

### **9.3 Recycle**

The process by which waste materials are utilized in the production/creation of new products is called recycling. The materials used/reused in recycling are substitutes for raw materials obtained from natural resources thus reducing the exploitation of natural recourses to some extent and also reducing contamination of the environment by waste disposal. It also prevents wasting potentially useful materials and reduces demand for new raw materials. Generally, materials like glass, metal, plastic, wood and paper are collected, separated, and recycled to make new things. The energy generation from waste treatment is also a part of the recycling process. Recycling can be internal (in-house) or external.

Following steps can be undertaken for nonbiodegradable waste management.


#### **9.4 Recycling of nonbiodegradable waste**

In the case of nonbiodegradable wastes, in addition to the 3 Rs of managing waste, a 4th R of Refuse should be considered. So, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, and Dispose is the best policy for reducing nonbiodegradable waste.

The nonbiodegradable waste goes for processing and treatment at specific waste treatment plants where they are recycled. Usually, the treatment of nonbiodegradable waste is done on the basis of the nature of the material it is made up of. Different procedures employed according to the major types of recycled waste are.

**Iron metal materials:** Iron is the most recycled metal. Recycled by separating by magnetic methods, melting in a furnace, and used for the production of other iron materials or steel.

**Non-iron metal materials:** Other metals like aluminum, copper, and alloys like brass are ground into fine pieces and molten to be recast in new materials.

**Glass:** Glass is crushed, decolorized, and put into the furnace for melting. This can be remolded into other articles of required shape and size. Molten glass is also used for layering on roads as glassphalt.

**Plastic:** Plastics are of various types and grades that all cannot be mixed together for treatment and need to be sorted. The plastics can be further processed remolded and used for making new materials.

#### **9.5 Recover**

Every material requires and intakes a lot of energy during its manufacture and the energy in waste materials cannot be wasted. It is cost-saving and eco-friendly to recover energy from waste materials.

Energy from biodegradable waste can be extracted relatively easily and efficiently by biomass energy conversion, composting, biogas plants, etc. This process converts biological energy into a usable form of energy like gas and electricity [55].

Energy retrieval from nonbiodegradable is somewhat difficult and requires a complex process. NBW is subjected to a process of thermal decomposition or pyrolysis, which involves the breaking of intermolecular bonds to release energy in the form of heat. The residue obtained is in the form of ash or degraded product which can be safely dumped or discarded.
