Riohacha, 11 May 2020

The request was made in a communication addressed to the mayors, utility companies, external managers, companies providing health services and the general population.

Through the circular, the General Director of the Regional Autonomous Corporation of La Guajira, Corpoguajira, Samuel Lanao Robles, makes a series of recommendations regarding compliance with the decree 465 of 2020, in which the National Government adopts measures against the management of hazardous waste with biological or infectious risk generated on the occasion of Covid-19.

For the users, Corpoguajira makes the following recommendations:

• Dispose the waste in a double bag
• Spray waste and bag with alcohol before removing for collection
• Remove waste as close to the collection path as possible

 

To companies authorized for collection, almacenamiento, treatment and final disposal of hospital hazardous waste is recommended:

• Guarantee the provision of all collection activities, transporte, treatment and final disposal of waste with biological and infectious risk.
• Supply biosecurity elements to operators.
• Provide safe and environmentally sound management of received residues or wastes.
• Update and activate the contingency plan articulated with the health institution.
• Continuously report to the environmental authority the status of the operation of storage areas and treatment systems.
• Disinfect and dispose of the personal protection elements used in each collection following the guidelines of the Decree 465 of 2020 and other rules that regulate the matter.
• Inform its users of contagion prevention measures associated with waste management.

 

It is recommended to establishments generating hospital hazardous waste:

• Guarantee collection, treatment and final provision by means of a current contractual link with the manager that provides said services, that have licenses and permits for environmental management and control.
• Have an updated contingency plan.
• When the external manager arrives at the IPS, will collect waste in a defined area, minimizing the risk of contact with waste. The container used for this activity must be insured and labeled for its subsequent transfer to the treatment site and final disposal..
• If the evacuation and disposal of waste is not guaranteed, within the IPS in the shortest possible time, a space will be allocated inside the waste storage area that the IPS has, signposted for their location, in which the entrance to this area should be restricted to authorized personnel only, having the respective protection measures in accordance with the procedures established by the health service provider.
• After this, the IPS where the stored waste is located, will coordinate with the external manager for your disposal, which must be through heat treatment without combustion (autoclave), in order to guarantee the containment of risk in the handling and management of waste, adopting biosecurity and waste transport measures.
• Once the waste collection by the external manager is finished, The containers, internal collection vehicles, equipment and facilities used for management must be cleaned and disinfected in accordance with the procedures established by the health service provider.

 

For more information, everything you need to know about waste in COVID time - 19 In the following link: https://bit.ly/2YSOQTV