Proper medical waste management is crucial for protecting public health and the environment in Mauritius. By strengthening regulatory frameworks, investing in modern waste treatment technologies, and raising awareness among stakeholders, the country can ensure a safer and more sustainable approach to handling medical waste.
Medical waste, also known as healthcare waste, comprises all waste materials generated at healthcare facilities, such as hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and pharmacies. These wastes can pose serious health risks if not managed properly, as they may contain infectious agents, hazardous chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Healthcare wastes are classified as hazardous wastes in view of their infectiousness, toxicity, corrosivity, reactivity, or the potential to cause injury. Proper containment, handling, and disposal of medical waste are crucial, as its microbial load—and therefore its potential to cause infection—is significantly higher than that of household waste. An essential part of biomedical waste management is the triage and classification of waste types. Infectious wastes are either disposed of by incineration or through sterilisation (after shredding). General non-hazardous wastes are either recycled (where applicable) or disposed of to the satisfaction of the Solid Waste Management Division.
In Mauritius, the management of medical waste is a critical issue due to the country's limited land resources and the potential environmental and health hazards associated with improper disposal.
Types of Medical Waste
Medical waste in Mauritius can be classified into the following categories:
- Infectious Waste – Includes materials contaminated with pathogens such as used bandages, swabs, cultures, and discarded medical instruments.
- Pathological Waste – Comprises human tissues, organs, and fluids from surgeries or autopsies.
- Sharps Waste – Includes needles, syringes, scalpels, and other sharp medical instruments that may cause injuries and transmit diseases.
- Pharmaceutical Waste – Expired or unused medications, vaccines, and drugs that need proper disposal to prevent contamination.
- Chemical Waste – Includes disinfectants, laboratory reagents, and other toxic chemicals used in medical facilities.
- Radioactive Waste – Generated from medical treatments involving radioactive substances such as radiotherapy.
- General Waste – Non-hazardous waste such as paper, plastics, and packaging materials from medical facilities.
There are other types of non-infectious wastes hazardous chemical wastes, gaseous wastes and electronic wastes like batteries that can be generated at healthcare facilities.
Current Medical Waste Management System in Mauritius
As per the updated National IPC Guideline (also available on the MoBienet app), the medical waste management system in Mauritius involves several key steps:
Collection and Segregation – Medical waste is collected and segregated at the source using colour-coded bins:
Storage – Segregated waste is stored temporarily in dedicated containers before being transported to treatment facilities.
Transportation – Licensed waste management companies transport the waste to designated treatment facilities under strict guidelines to prevent contamination.
Treatment and Disposal –
- Infectious wastes and sharp wastes are either sterilized prior to final disposal at the landfill, or disposed of by incineration.
- Pathological and anatomical wastes are disposed of by incineration only as these wastes are not accepted at the landfill;
- Uncontaminated chemical wastes including unused/expired chemicals and unused/expired pharmaceutical wastes are disposed of as hazardous wastes at the Interim Storage Facility for Hazardous Wastes at La Chaumière.
- All sterilized shredded wastes shall be collected in appropriate well-labelled, leak-proof bags and disposed of at the Mare Chicose Landfill.
4. Monitoring and Compliance – The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environment oversee medical waste management in Mauritius. Compliance with regulations and international best practices is essential to minimize environmental and health risks.
Disposal methods for different types of healthcare waste
Type of wastes | Disposal method |
| Infectious and sharp wastes | These wastes are either sterilized prior to final disposal at the landfill, or disposed of by incineration. |
| Pathological and anatomical wastes | Disposed of by incineration only as these wastes are not accepted at the landfill. |
| Uncontaminated chemical wastes (including unused/expired chemicals and unused/expired pharmaceutical wastes) | Disposed of as hazardous wastes at the Interim Storage Facility for Hazardous Wastes at La Chaumière. |
| Sterilized shredded wastes | These wastes shall be collected in appropriate well-labelled, leak-proof bags and disposed of at the Mare Chicose Landfill |
Source: Solid Waste Management Division, Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change
