WMRR
The Biohazard Waste Industry Australia & NZ (BWI) division was formed in 1994 (changing its name from ANZCWMIG in 2007) to develop and promote consistent standards for the management of biohazardous wastes based on best practice. Members of BWI include waste transporters/disposal facility operators, consultants to the healthcare sector, tertiary institutions, medical device manufacturers and other stakeholders.
If you are a clinical waste generator, you may be interested in joining BWI's Associate Health Care Group. For further information on the group’s activities, how to join the group, and fees associated with BWI membership, please contact the WMRR national office on 02 8746 5000.
In December 2020, the Division released the 8th edition of the Industry Code of Practice: Managing Biohazardous Waste (Including Clinical and Related Wastes), which details environmental best practice in the safe and cost-effective handling, transport, treatment and disposal of biohazardous waste in Australia and New Zealand. The Code brings together minimum regulatory requirements combined with a best practice approach to managing biohazardous waste. It is intended to be outcome-focused, rather than prescriptive, to help industry move towards environmental best practice, irrespective of the treatment and/or disposal technologies used.
The Code covers:
Definitions
Waste Classifications and segregation
Management responsibilities
Home healthcare waste
Waste containment
Storage requirements
Transportation
Treatment and disposal facilities
Disposal of treatment residues
Workplace Health & Safety
Education & training
Stakeholder relations
This edition also includes guidance on the safe and appropriate handling of pandemic (or similar) waste.
Financial WMRR members may download the Code here - members must first log in to the member portal to access this page.
If you are not a member but would like to purchase a copy of the Code ($50 including GST), please contact the WMRR office at [email protected]
To assist stakeholders in understanding the Code and what best practice biohazardous waste management entails, the BWI division has also developed FAQs based on key chapters of the Code. These FAQs summarise some of the commonly asked questions and are free to download:
Biohazardous Waste Generators
Education and Training
Handling and Containing Biohazardous Waste
Home Healthcare Waste
Storing Biohazardous Waste
Transporting Biohazardous Waste
Treating and Disposing of Biohazardous Waste
Waste Management Plans and Audits
Workplace Health and Safety
BWI has developed guidance to assist in providing direction to hospitals, aged and health care providers managing COVID-19 affected materials, and to assist those who are managing waste, both within and outside of these facilities. In the wake of the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO), many stakeholders, including hospitals, aged and health care providers, are considering the additional measures to ensure the appropriate management of waste from patients, confirmed or suspected, infected with COVID-19. This statement seeks to offer general guidance to stakeholders. BWI also recommends that organisations contact and work with their waste management providers if they have any specific questions or require further information. This guidance can be found here.
The following organisations and individuals are members of the Biohazard Waste Industry (BWI) division of the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia. BWI members are actively involved in developing and reviewing this Code of Practice.
Ace Waste
491 Gooderham Road
Willawong QLD 4110
Tel: +61 7 3372 6666
Fax: +61 7 3372 3777
Contact: Alexander Homewood
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.acewaste.com.au
SUEZ Australia
PO Box 3500
Rhodes Waterside NSW 2138 (head office)
Tel: +61 2 8754 0000
Contact: Ruth Emmett
Website: www.suez.com.au
BD Medical
66 Waterloo Drive, Macquarie Park
North Ryde NSW 2113
Tel: +61 2 8875 7000
Fax: +61 2 8875 7100
Mobile: +64 21 877 227
Contact: Sandra McKenzie
Website: www.bd.com
Thornton, Dr Trevor (Deakin University)
12 Baker Street
Anglesea VIC 3230
Tel: +61 3 9251 7621
Mobile: +61 412 036 781
Contact: Trevor Thornton
Med-X Healthcare Solutions
323-325 Raglan St
Sale VIC 3850
Tel: 1300 116 639
Mobile: +61 4 3322 2551
Contact: Van Karas
Website: www.med-xsolutions.com.au
Contact: Deborah Costin
Mobile: +61 4 2385 1801
Veolia Australia and New Zealand
Level 4, 65 Pirrama ROAD
Pyrmont, NSW 2009
Tel: +61 2 8572 0306
Mobile: +61 4 4891 9410
Contact: Tim Lee
Website: www.veolia.com/anz