Planning and constructing of new waste treatment facilities

Agenda 21 recommends focusing on the rehabilitation, operation and maintenance of existing facilities and technical assistance on improved maintenance practices and techniques, this to be followed by the planning and construction of waste treatment facilities.

This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities.

In the development of new health care waste treatment facilities in Borsod (Hungary) it was found that new waste regulations were not being met by existing treatment equipment or by the options proposed by individual institutions. Extensive discussions took place between hospital managers and the local environmental regulator, and they worked together to set up a regional health care waste treatment facility with more clearly demonstrable environment and public health protection capabilities.