Over 120,000 tons of medical waste, including hazardous waste from military hospitals, clinics and general hospitals, is accumulated every year in the country, a source at the Health Ministry told Arab News.

According to the official, about 10,000 tons are accumulated per month, with waste in Jeddah alone amounting to 15 percent of the total waste in the Kingdom, or about 50 tons per day.

Waste accumulation is a major concern for the Infection Control Management Department in Jeddah, as it fears a potential spread of infections and diseases due to inadequate collection and disposal processes.

According to department employees, waste is collected only once a week, a measure that does not meet medical standards. They also stated that the lack of weight scales and adequate measuring systems result in inaccurate quantities being dumped.

Meanwhile, most of the accumulated medical waste increases vulnerability to infectious diseases among cleaners, who also lack experience to deal with hazardous waste.

“If someone is exposed to such waste, they are immediately transferred to King Saud Hospital, but such cases are rare,” said Dr. Amira Badukhun, a ministry supervisor in Jeddah.

“Lab containers must not be filled to the top, and must be sealed and placed in designated places with ventilation and appropriate temperatures until the specialized company responsible for waste collection collects the items,” she explained.