The HCSP has issued an opinion on the revision of the national guide to the elimination of infectious risk waste from healthcare activities (HCW) and waste similar to HCW (DASRI-A), which aims to harmonise practices for the sorting and management of waste from healthcare activities (DAS) and similar waste, for professionals working in institutions or in private practice, in human or veterinary medicine, and for patients undergoing self-treatment at home.

In addition to its opinion of 1 June 2023, the HCSP clarifies the characterisation of the infectious (biological) risk of HCW and similar waste and provides details and examples of infectious processes involving active multiplication of biological pathogens (microbial colonisation) and the formation of an infectious focus with signs of local infection.

For non-invasive medical waste, the HCSP recommends that all medical waste originating, after clinical and/or microbiological assessment, from a confirmed or suspected infectious site with an active multiplication of biological pathogens, as well as medical waste heavily impregnated with blood, biological fluids, secretions or excretions with a risk of leakage, should be directed towards the infectious risk HCW stream.

The HCSP recommends that appropriate training courses be set up for care, logistics and waste collection staff. Finally, the HCSP recommends that, in accordance with the AGEC Act, specific recycling and recovery channels be set up for waste classified as ‘non-hazardous’ or waste from other economic activities, to avoid overloading the household waste disposal channels.