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Maryland Hospitals Grapple With Health Fallout Of Medical Waste Incineration

"Maryland’s largest health systems are under pressure to cut their dealings with an incinerator that has a history of environmental violations."

"Maryland’s two largest health systems have taken contrasting positions on their future dealings with a controversial medical waste incinerator in South Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Health System and University said it ended its dealings with the incinerator while MedStar Health gave no such assurance.  

“We have ended all dealings with Curtis Bay Energy and are working to shift nearly all of our medical waste disposal to more environmentally-friendly technologies, including autoclave and ozone sterilization facilities,” a Johns Hopkins University spokesperson said in emailed comments to Inside Climate News.

The representative noted that the Johns Hopkins system, which includes hospitals and the university, only used Curtis Bay Energy for about a quarter of its medical waste and the institution is working quickly to identify a new facility for the small portion of medical waste that requires incineration. “There are no currently available alternatives to incineration for several types of medical waste streams. We are actively seeking technological and location options for these waste streams,” the spokesperson said."

Aman Azhar reports for Inside Climate News May 27, 2024.

Source: Inside Climate News, 05/28/2024