醫療廢棄物資源再生安全性與可行性評估

在醫療技術逐漸進步的狀況下，依據衛生福利部最新統計資料顯示，全台約有兩萬家醫療機構，所產生之廢棄物依照廢棄物清理法將其歸類為醫療事業廢棄物。經環保署統計全台約有3萬公噸/年的醫療事業廢棄物產生，其中約八成使用焚燒處理法，約兩成是回收再利用，由於環保意識越發強烈，零廢棄物與回收再利用等觀念已成為國內外廢棄物管理的重要議題。本研究目的為透過回收醫療事業廢棄物製造成再利用之產品，不但能有效改善對環境造成的衝擊，且能更加邁向永續環境發展之理念。本研究所收受之醫療事業廢棄物為生物醫療廢棄物中的廢尖銳器具及感染性廢棄物，共計844,000 Kg，利用高溫高壓滅菌後進行人工分類分選，再將塑料以粉碎機粉碎成塑膠片後，與塑膠原料混合攪拌，最後製成再利用塑料產物。再利用產品量為478,000 Kg，再利用率為53.9％，主要產品為各種塑膠材料，包含聚氯乙烯(PVC)可以再利用成塑膠地磚，產出量為203,000 Kg；銷售量為198,000 Kg、聚碳酸酯(PC)再利用成晶元盒，產出量為85,700 Kg；銷售量為83,800 Kg、通用級聚苯乙烯(PS)再利用成晶元隔片，產出量為79,300 Kg；銷售量為77,500 Kg、聚丙烯(PP)及聚乙烯(PE)則可以再利用成光碟片放置盒，產出量為98,100 Kg及2,050 Kg；銷售量112,000 Kg及1,820Kg。本研究也對再利用產品進行檢測，其結果為廢棄物氫離子濃度指數為6.66、萃出液中總鉻檢驗值為<0.005(0.00187) mg/L、萃出液中總銅檢驗值為0.005 mg/L、萃出液中總鋇檢驗值為0.058 mg/L及萃出液中六價鉻、總汞、總砷、總鎘、總鉛、總硒檢驗值皆低於方法偵測極限，皆符合法規標準。結果發現回收再利用從兩成提昇至近六成，可減少焚燒所產生的廢氣，也能提供塑膠製造業較低價的再利用產品。然而，廢棄物再利用製造過程中可能會衍生其餘污染源，如切割研磨時的塑膠粉塵或機械運作之噪音等二次污染源，因此在製造過程中應先設置相關的防治措施與設備。

關鍵字

醫療事業廢棄物；回收再利用；環境宿命

並列摘要

According to the latest statistics of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, there are currently an estimated 20, 000 medical institutions in Taiwan due to the gradual progression of medical technology. The waste generated in these institutions is classified as medical waste according to waste disposal procedures. A statistical report from the Environmental Protection Agency indicated that about 30, 000 metric tons of medical waste is generated in Taiwan and about 80% of it is incinerated while about 20% is recycled. Due to environmental awareness, the concepts of zero waste and recycling have become an important issue in waste management both locally and abroad. The purpose of this research was to reprocess recycled medical waste products, which not only can effectively improve the impact on the environment, but also lead towards the concept of sustainable environmental development. The medical waste received from the Institute include waste sharp equipment and infectious biomedical waste, totaling 844, 000 kg, which were sorted manually and then sorted by high-temperature autoclaving. After that, the plastics were crushed into plastic sheets by a crusher. The plastic sheets were then mixed with a plastic material and were finally made into a plastic product. The reusable product volume was 478, 000 kg and the reutilization rate was 53.9%. The main products were various plastic materials, which include polyvinyl chloride (PVC) that can be reused into plastic floor tiles with a yield of 203, 000 kg and sales volume of 198, 000 kg; polycarbonate (PC) that can be reused into wafer boxes with a yield of 85, 700 kg and sales volume of 83, 800 kg; general-purpose polystyrene (PS) that can be reused as wafer spacers with a yield of 79, 300 kg and sales volume of 77, 500 kg; and polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) that can be reused as disc storage boxes with yields of 98, 100 and 2, 050 kg and sales volumes of 112, 000 and 1, 820 kg, respectively. This study also tested the reused products. The results showed a hydrogen ion concentration index of 6.66 and a total chromium and copper test values of <0.005 (0.00187) and 0.005 mg/L in the extract, respectively. The total enthalpy test value in the extract was 0.058 mg/L and the test values of hexavalent chromium, total mercury, total arsenic, total cadmium, total lead, and total selenium in the extract were all lower than the method detection limit. All complied with regulatory standards. As a result, it was found that the recycling increased from 20% to nearly 60%, which can reduce the waste gas generated by incineration and can provide a cheaper reused product in the plastics manufacturing industry. However, during the waste recycling process, remaining pollution sources can still be identified such as secondary dust sources like plastic dust during cutting and grinding or mechanical operation noise. Therefore, relevant prevention measures and equipment should be established during the manufacturing process.