Biomedical Waste Now Treated in Dartmouth

Nova Scotia's biomedical waste is now being treated at a new waste-disposal facility in Dartmouth.

Medical Waste Management has received all environmental and regulatory approvals necessary to operate the facility.

"All of the conditions that were specified in the request for proposal have been met," said Barry Lampier, manager of infrastructure management at the Department of Health. "The company has been able to meet the conditions set out in their original proposal. In fact, the company was able to start its service a week ahead of what was required."

A steam sterilization method is treating the province's 2,300 tonnes of biomedical waste. Used syringes and other contaminated products are turned into inactive waste suitable for landfill. It is then disposed of at the East Hants Landfill until a new landfill site in West Hants opens in 2006.

The 110 tonnes of other waste, such as anatomical tissue and chemotherapy waste, is being processed at a facility in Ontario.

The contract to handle the waste generated at Nova Scotia hospitals is for a five-year term.