Hospitals and hazardous wastes.

Much attention surrounds the volatile subject of hazardous waste management in our society--What is it? What can/should we do about it? How should we pay for it? What happens when these wastes are mismanaged? Experience shows that in hospitals: (1) There is a great deal of confusion and misinformation about the extent of responsibility for hazardous waste disposal; and (2) There are direct violations of regulations ranging from minor administrative infractions to ones that seriously threaten the environment and human life. This article examines the confusion surrounding the management of hazardous waste by hospitals and offers some management guidance.