Separate and safely manage antimicrobial-bearing medicines, manure and sludge
#00387
Keep unused medicines, contaminated manure, healthcare waste and treatment sludge out of uncontrolled drains, fields and dumps through collection, treatment and risk-based reuse rules.
Parent issue
#00370 Antibiotic residues and resistant organisms contaminate water and soil
Sustainable Development Goals
Location
Description
Authorities and waste operators should create collection routes for unused antimicrobials, segregate high-risk healthcare and manufacturing waste, and apply risk-based storage, treatment and land-application rules to manure and sewage sludge. Farm nutrient plans should reduce runoff and account for recent antimicrobial treatment.
The intervention targets waste streams that conventional municipal systems may not manage safely. Treatment and disposal choices must consider local infrastructure, greenhouse-gas emissions, nutrient recovery, farmer costs and the possibility that resistance genes persist after antibiotic residues decline.
Sub-issues
0Case studies
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