MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN BANGLADESH: A STUDY OF X MUNICIPALITY

Proper solid waste disposal is very important for the nature itself and its’ inhabitants. However, a study covering various aspects of solid waste management including management practices, prevailing problems and possible solutions are scarce in the literature. Accordingly, this study investigates a municipality of Bangladesh to understand the practices, problems and probable solutions of solid waste management. The dwellers of the surveyed municipality throw solid waste in various places like dustbin, drain, roadside and other crude dumping sites. Only about one-fourth of the respondents throw wastes to designated dustbins. More than half of the respondents don’t have knowledge about proper disposal of solid wastes. The study findings indicate that the survey respondents throw waste throughout the whole day. More than 80 percent of the respondents are either dissatisfied or highly dissatisfied with the existing solid waste management services of the municipality. The data indicate that about two-third of the respondents are willing to pay for improving the waste disposal system. The respondents informed that they are affected by various diseases such as diarrhea, pneumonia, asthma, and bronchitis during the last one year which they perceive as the outcome of improper solid waste management. Therefore, this study suggests for awareness development, time management of waste disposal, establishment of more disposal and collection points, employment of more manpower and vehicles, introduction of the ‘door to door’ waste collection mechanism, segregation of industrial and clinical wastes for ensuring a better managed solid waste disposal system in the municipality.

Virtual reality simulation increases Chinese physicians’ and lab technicians’ familiarity and confidence regarding proper clinical wastes segregation/disposal: a 2-year pilot study

Although they receive regular training, the survey we administered to our junior physicians and lab technicians revealed that they lack familiarity and confidence regarding the proper segregation/disposal of clinical wastes. In this pilot prospective study, carried out between September 2017 and September 2019, we developed a virtual reality (VR) simulation and integrated it into the steps of Gangen’s training flow. Next, we analysed objective performance, recorded by the App in the VR system as well as the subjective self-assessments of 96 junior physicians and lab technicians after two practices of VR games. Before receiving training, lab technicians' self-assessed familiarity and confidence regarding proper clinical wastes segregation/disposal were higher than among physicians. Compared with the first VR game, we noted greater improvement in accuracy as well as a higher percentage of shortened time to complete 10 actions of segregation/disposal of VR clinical wastes, among junior physicians/male trainees, that of junior lab technicians/female trainees in the second VR game. Most of the trainees (81%–88%) reported that they found the VR game-based training to be useful, in contrast to poster-mass media-based training. Our initial positive results indicated the possibility of applying this VR game-based simulation system to regular institution-wide staff education in future.

Complaints on abortuses handling: policy recommendations for Hong Kong

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to review cases about complaints of abortuses handling in Hong Kong, and to further propose policy recommendations to help comfort parents with respect and dignity toward abortuses. Design/methodology/approach There is a systematic review of articles/newspapers related to the practice and regulation of abortuses handling in Hong Kong and overseas countries. Also, point of views among stakeholders are selected from: newspapers, patients’ groups, Hong Kong SAR Government’s websites, radio programmes’ interviews, related organizations’ websites, blogs from legislative councilors and lawyers. Findings Since parents suffered from miscarriage before 24 weeks’ pregnancy are increasingly willing to share their experiences and struggled for arranging a legal funeral for their children, Hong Kong SAR Government is able to understand these parents’ needs and hence set up more “Angel Garden” in both the public and the private cemeteries. Yet, the provision of funeral and cremation services are still not comprehensive. Existing measures from Mainland China and overseas countries to handle abortuses and to provide support for parents are analyzed. More critically, ethical concern on handling abortuses as one of the clinical wastes is further included in the discussion. Originality/value Although all less than 24 weeks’ fetuses cannot be given any Certificate of Stillbirth, respect and dignity can still be presented toward their parents by flexible regulation. After discussing the related measures on handling abortuses from other countries, some of their humane regulations are feasible to be applied to Hong Kong.

Possibilities of Using Clinical Waste Combustion Products as an Aggregate in Manufacturing Construction Materials

In recent years there has been an increasing tendency to use wastes in manufacturing construction material. Some of the studies were dedicated to recycling hazardous waste in a manner that is safe and protective of human health and the environment. The aim of this work is to study the possibility of using clinical waste as the aggregates for manufacturing construction materials. For that purpose, firstly a technology of initial sterilization with combustion of clinical waste was considered. Secondly as along as the clinical waste became sterile and environmentally safe, non-hazardous fractionated products of clinical waste combustion were proposed as aggregate for concretes. This study reports the results of the experiment when different concrete compositions with such aggregate were obtained, investigated and tested using samples (100 mm cubes). Physic-chemical properties of the material were described; its environmental impact was assessed. Thirdly, the potential of the big city in clinical waste generation and subsequent use of fractionated products of clinical waste combustion in construction materials manufacturing was evaluated. As a result of the use of ArcGIS ESRI geoinformation system, a visual representation of the information has been provided. The results of this study show the possibility of using non-hazardous clinical wastes combustion products in manufacturing construction materials and also in road construction.