Introduction: The present research on hospital wastes sets out a comprehensive framework for improving waste management practices in hospitals of Tehran University Medical Sciences.

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed in year 2006. Data were collected using a checklist and a questionnaire whose validity and reliability were verified.

Results: The medical wastes generated in these hospitals were extremely heterogeneous in composition: paper and cardboard, plastic, syringes, glass, metals, food wastes, infectious wastes, etc. Forty two percent of the wastes were collected in containers and plastic bags. In 75% of the studied hospitals, the stay-time in storage sites was about 12-24 hours. All of the medical wastes of the hospitals were collected by covered-trucks and transported out of the hospital. In 46% of the hospitals, transfer of medical wastes to temporary stations was done manually. The hazardous wastes produced in the hospital wards amounted to about 42% of the total wastes.

Conclusion: According to the results obtained in this study, in order to reduce these kinds of pollution in the hospitals, action should be taken to deal with pollutants at their source of generation, which should be focused within the hospitals. The staff members involved in waste collection and transport should practice all the personal protection measures. Of course, medical waste management cannot succeed without cooperation and participation of all groups of medical staff.

 Hakim Research Journal 2008 11(1): 40- 47.