Mersin Metropolitan Municipality meticulously carries out the disposal of medical waste throughout the city. Under the coordination of the Climate Change and Zero Waste Department, the collection and disposal of medical waste, which is of great importance in terms of public health and environmental safety, is carried out in accordance with the relevant regulations.
The Metropolitan Municipality has disposed of 2019 thousand tons of medical waste since April 19
Within the scope of medical waste management, an active study is being carried out with 1429 health institutions with which the Metropolitan Municipality has contracts throughout the city. The waste collected from these institutions is transported by 4 special transportation vehicles designed in accordance with the regulation. Since April 2019, approximately 19 thousand tons of medical waste has been collected by the Metropolitan Municipality and disposed of in a way that will not harm the environment. In the first 2025 months of 5, 1600 tons of medical waste was collected and disposed of safely.
Medical waste is taken from health institutions defined in the regulation, such as hospitals, clinics, veterinary clinics, and transported to the Central Solid Waste Regular Storage Facility in Sarıibrahimli. Here, the waste is sterilized under high temperature and pressure, purified from harmful microorganisms and their disease-causing effects are eliminated. The effectiveness of the sterilization process is constantly checked with weekly biological and daily chemical tests. Separating and disposing of medical waste in accordance with the regulations is important for both public health and environmental sustainability.
Karakoç: “Medical waste is collected in accordance with the regulations”
Environmental Engineer Ayşe Bahar Karakoç, who works at the Climate Change and Zero Waste Department, stated that collecting medical waste separately from household waste in accordance with the regulations is very important for public and environmental health, “During the pandemic, we all experienced and saw how important medical waste management is for public health. Under the coordination of our Climate Change and Zero Waste Department, the management of all medical waste from Çamlıyayla to Anamur is carried out with 1429 health institutions. We carry out transportation operations throughout our province with our 4 vehicles licensed by the Provincial Directorate and designed in accordance with the regulation. These 4 vehicles cover an average distance of 1000 kilometers per day and medical waste is collected in the specified periods in accordance with the regulation.” dedicate.
“Our citizens also have a very high awareness on this issue”
Karakoç said that medical waste is collected from health institutions, veterinary clinics, and clinics that comply with the regulations. “Medical waste brought to the facility in Sarıibrahimli is subjected to a sterilization process here. Incoming medical waste is purified from harmful microorganisms under high temperature and pressure, and loses its disease-causing effects. The effectiveness of this sterilization process is monitored with weekly biological and daily chemical analyses. In addition, the Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change keeps it under control by taking analysis samples every 3 months.” she said.
Karakoç added that 2019 thousand tons of waste has been collected and disposed of since April 19. “In the first 2025 months of 5, 1600 tons of medical waste was collected, transported and disposed of. We see that our citizens also have a very high awareness about the separation of medical waste from household waste.” gave expressions.
