Some wards in the Arakan State capital Sittwe have reported medical waste being dumped at their garbage sites, according to the state’s resources minister, U Than Tun.

Personal protective equipment, medical gloves and syringes were found discarded at a dumpsite in Yupa Myauk ward, according to the minister, who added that such irresponsible disposal of medical waste posed dangers to municipal workers and scavengers alike.

“It is not appropriate to dump potentially harmful and hazardous lab waste, factory waste, and business waste at public dumpsites,” he said. “The municipality must arrange a separate dumpsite for those things. But then, people shouldn’t dump their waste irresponsibly while the municipality still can’t provide a separate dumpsite.”

Existing law requires medical waste to be properly disposed of. Dr. Kyawt Thar Sein told DMG that municipal authorities and hospital management teams should hold talks to find a solution.

“It is required by law to bury or incinerate medical waste,” he said. “The law prohibits dumping [medical waste] at public dumpsites. Disposal of medical waste at dumpsites can pose dangers to waste collectors. [Municipal authorities] should ask the health department to handle it. Rather than punitive action, it is better to solve the problem through negotiations.”

In October of last year, DMG also found medical waste being dumped at BXT port, a popular public recreation area in Sittwe’s Mi Zan ward.