WHO Safe management of wastes from health-care activities, 2nd ed.

This is the second edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) handbook on the safe, sustainable and affordable management of health-care waste – commonly known as “the Blue Book”. The original Blue Book was a comprehensive publication used widely in health-care centres and government agencies to assist in the adoption of national guidance. It also provided support to committed medical directors and managers to make improvements and presented practical information on waste-management techniques for medical staff and waste workers. The first edition in 1999 was published at an influential point in time. Public interest in emerging and developing countries to improve health services was growing, and poor waste practices within health-care facilities were being challenged increasingly by interest groups and communities. In the more developed countries, there was a renewed concern about consumption of resources and impacts on global changes to climate and the environment.