Oral question no. 0464S from
Mme
Catherine Deroche
(Maine-et-Loire – The Republicans)
published in the JO Senate of 02/23/2023 – page 1271
Mrs. Catherine Deroche draws the attention of the Minister of Health and Prevention to the management of infectious risk health care activity waste (DASRI). Following the observation of heterogeneous infectious risk waste sorting practices, the General Directorate of Health (DGS) legitimately decided to begin the revision of the guide on the management of the DASRI for health professionals dating from 2009. This revision is more than necessary today, when this sector is an important link in our care chain.
If the simplification of sorting practices is imperative, this must be done by guaranteeing the protection of the health of the agents in contact with the DASRI, during the transport of the waste as well as during its elimination. However, considering directing infectious risk waste to the household waste sector (DAOM), as seems to be envisaged in the work carried out by the DGS, is not without risk for our health system. The agents in charge of collecting and treating household waste do not benefit from personal protection equivalent to their counterparts in the DASRI sector and risk being exposed to cuts or objects stained with blood.
In addition, there is an environmental risk. Household waste trucks are not authorized to transport hazardous materials due to their lack of total tightness, unlike those in the DASRI sector.
Finally, new sorting errors might arise from this change in practices.
The stakes of the sector seem to lie in the support and training of carers for better sorting practices, as well as in the organized restructuring of the sector in a more circular logic. Also, it would like to know the reasons that are pushing the DGS today to consider a sharp reduction in the tonnage of the DASRIs by redirecting their processing towards the DAOM sector.
Awaiting response from the Ministry of Health and Prevention.
