PAGE 2, WEDNESDAY, JULY 24,1985, WIIUTBY FREE PRESS R e gion to study medical waste disposai The methods em- ployed to dispose of bio- medical waste wiil be reviewed by the Durham Region Health Unit over the next few weeks. According to Dr. Jean Gray, the medical of- ficer of health, questionnaires wli be distributed to alseven hospitals in the region - including Dr. J.O. Rud- dy General Hospitl and the Whtby Psychiatric Hospital - as weII as a representative sain- pling of medical laboratories; nursing homes; veterinary clinics; doctors' offices; and, funeral homes.- In a report submnitted to Durham Regionai Council last week, Gray said that only three sur- veys into the disposai of blo-medicai waste have been conducted recen- tiy. The Ontario Hospital Association surveyed al seven of the region's hospitals in November, 1984 and the regionai works departrnent did one between JanuarY and March of 1984. However, that report addressed mainly veterinary ciinics. The third survey was conducted in June of this year by Decom Medicai Waste Tran- sportation Systems Inc. as part of its proposa.i to deveiop a bio-medicai waste transfer station in Whitby. However, Whitby Town Council rejected the proposai. Gray toid the Free Press in an interview iast week that the sur- vey wiii include the disposai of al pathological and ciinic waste inciuding human and animal tissues, needles and other medicai products. While the medical of- f icer of health noted that the Ontario Ministry of the Environinent recommends that al blo-medicai waste be disposed of through in- cinceration she said that this method is not being universeiy used in the region at this time. "At present it can be deduced from the questionnaires that have already been com- pieted that there is no standard way of disposing of the various classes of blo-medicai waste throughout the region," Gray said in her report to regionai council. Froni the previous studies, Gray believes that most human anatomicai waste is being încinerated. "In generai, from the survey answers, it can be surmised that human incinerated, either on hospitai premises where they are produced, in the incinerator at Port Perry or in incinerators used by private bio- medical waste disposai firms, " she said. Laboratory wastes, Gray added, appear to be autociaved and then delivered to private bio- medical waste firnis or are sent to landfill sites. Animais "go mainiy to landfili but some are in- cinerated or buried in animal cemneteries," she said. "O0ther lesser bio- medical wastes are delivered to private firms to be incinerated or are bagged and go to landfilh, " Gray added. During the interview, Gray said that the current methods are the best possible for the disposai of bio-medicai waste. -in generai, it is done the best it can be done under the circunistan-, ces," she said adding that while incineration is the best means "there isn't sufficient in- cinerator capacity to deai with the waste in the province - not just in the region. " Gray also maintains that there are no major heaith hazards being posed by the waste currently. "lThere are no major health hazards," she said, "If there were we would have (the means NEW STORE HOU RS... MON..THIJRS. 11 A.M. - 7P.M. FRIDAY 11 A.M. - 9 P.M. SATURDAY 10 A.M. - 5 P.M. SALE CON DUCTED BY R.J.P. JEWELLERS INO. CASH-VISA-MASTERCARD PERSONAL SHOPPING ONLY BEING HELD AT 555 SIMCOE ST. S-, 579-5339 I A I I r'I7r~f% MLL ~ AVAl LABLE 14K GOLO WITH 10K GOLD ~2 2 , ?, A LADIES 10KGOLD .74 CT. CLTJ T .- V.. UAli 1395100 2YV T JUST ARRIVED 14K GOLD $1995 14K GOLD GOLD$95 CHAIN $2SET GENTS 10K GOLD LQ1A~G~0OO LDE IMN LSE 7 SPARKLI NG DIAMONOS OVER 800 ASSORTED BAGS $19900 :TES*WEENES YOUR CHOICE CENTRE $50 11 9 0TOTE BMOS SPORTS BAOS * ETC. SAPPHIRE, DIAMONO E WIES &GENTS 16" 10K GOLD LADIES 1OK GO LD 1KGL TA rERRIFIC VALUE $99$ 95_ 1 6?ET HEALTH& BEAUTY CENTRE LTD. 121 B ROCK ST. -N. 668-2661 ON EDAY ON LY -TH URS., J ULY,25TH * WMEAR * M ATF ,R-!i TY W EAR * * CTIVE W-'ýEAR * SUM MEl STOCK * THEN STOP FOR AN ICE CREAM AFTER! r !~ 7" 10K GOLD $799 The medicai officer of health added that the resuits of the survey shouid be known sometime in September at which time they will be submitted to regional council's health and social services commit- tee. Until those resuits are known, Gray said she doesn't know whether or not there wiil be any major poiicy changes concerning the disposai of bio-medical waste. Seniors receive $>79393 grant A group of retired people from Whitby, will receive a New Horizons grant for $7,393, Health and Weifare Minister Jake Epp announced Mon- day. The members of The Regency Tenants Association have developed a residential recreational program in their building. Their proposed activities are fitness classes, assorted table games, shuf- fleboard, monthly pot- lùcks and a variety of social events.