Illegal medical waste dumping story sparks probe
Print Edition
Health inspectors in Beijing are said to be looking into reports of improper waste disposal at a local hospital.
According to an undercover report published yesterday by the Beijing Times, unprocessed chemical waste from a tank at the Shunyi District branch of the Beijing Ditan Hospital was dumped into a storm drain via a 30-meter-long pipe.
Meanwhile, waste water from a separate tank was reportedly pumped into a vacuum truck and then disposed of in a drain outside of the hospital grounds, the newspaper alleged.
Such disposal operations had been going on for “several days,” according to a worker involved in the dumping quoted by the newspaper. It remains unclear whether the worker was employed by the hospital or another party.
An anonymous source with the hospital alleged that the illegal dumpings were organized in order to save money, the newspaper reported.
Under current regulations, medical waste must be treated prior to disposal in order to prevent environmental contamination and the spread of disease. Those found guilty of violating these laws could face up to seven years in prison.
Following exposure by the media, health inspectors in Shunyi began investigating the matter, according to a follow up published by the newspaper. A statement on the hospital’s Weibo account also said that relevant officials were being questioned.
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