According to the WHO, in 2000 the improper treatment of medical waste (primarily the use of infected hypodermic needles and syringes) caused the following Illnesses Globally:

• Hepatitis B: 21 million infections;
• hepatitis C: 2 million infections; and
• HIV: 260,000 infections.

The above figures show how relevant appropriate medical waste treatment is. In accordance with the WHO directive, poisonous waste ought to be processed as close to the place of generation as possible. The dangers involved with the transport of hazardous waste are big and the danger factor found in certain materials (e.g. those that are infectious) increases every day. Suitably located and equipped waste disposal facilities can minimize the requirement to transfer hazardous materials. A great deal of their waste from hospitals is contagious biological substances or objects, which even though they can be considered"communal" waste, are in fact contaminated. These latter items include textiles, bandages, syringes, and other items vulnerable to infection through contact with patients. Very much of this waste from physicians is made up of special surgical tools, such as surgical implants and other implements employed during operations.