Medical Waste Incinerators in Idaho
Building on our success in Montana, WVE is working in coalition with numerous Idaho-based groups to replace Idaho's remaining medical waste incinerators with safer, healthier disposal methods.
UPDATE! WVE convinces Boise VA Medical Center to stop
incinerating! WVE's grassroots efforts in Boise are a
success - click here to download the front page story from the Idaho Statesman. Thanks to the hard work and persistence of WVE members and friends in
Boise, the VA Medical Center has permanently shut down its incinerator.
History
In February 2005, WVE staff met with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality to discuss incineration facilities across the state.
Fortunately,
new Idaho Medical/Infectious Waste Incinerator (HMIWI) regulations have
resulted in the closure of a number of these operations. As of today,
there were only three remaining medical waste incinerators with
significant operations in Idaho.
The first of these facilities which WVE focused on was the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center (VAMC) in Boise. The Boise VAMC is centrally located within an urban, residential neighborhood – only blocks away from homes and playgrounds. While spokespersons for the VAMC
originally
claimed they burned as little as 50 pounds per week, records confirm
that
this was a gross understatement. According to the Idaho
Department of Environmental Quality, the VAMC burned on average, over
40,000 pounds of medical waste each quarter. The incinerator
operated without a scrubber able to control toxic emissions.
The Boise Veterans Administration (VA) had an exemption from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, which allowed them to burn pathological, low-level radioactive and chemotherapeutic waste. The Boise VA was not testing for or monitoring pollutants from their incinerator. Aside from keeping records of the time periods when they are burning pathological, low-level radioactive and chemotherapeutic waste, no stack tests or other monitoring were required for this incinerator, and they were not required to inform the public when they are burning.
WVE would like to thank the numerous local citizens, who helped us educate and engage the local community about the health hazards of this incinerator. Our public campaign was successful in pursuading the Boise Veteran’s Administration Medical Center to close their incinerator.
History
In February 2005, WVE staff met with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality to discuss incineration facilities across the state.
Fortunately,
new Idaho Medical/Infectious Waste Incinerator (HMIWI) regulations have
resulted in the closure of a number of these operations. As of today,
there were only three remaining medical waste incinerators with
significant operations in Idaho. The first of these facilities which WVE focused on was the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center (VAMC) in Boise. The Boise VAMC is centrally located within an urban, residential neighborhood – only blocks away from homes and playgrounds. While spokespersons for the VAMC
originally
claimed they burned as little as 50 pounds per week, records confirm
that
this was a gross understatement. According to the Idaho
Department of Environmental Quality, the VAMC burned on average, over
40,000 pounds of medical waste each quarter. The incinerator
operated without a scrubber able to control toxic emissions. The Boise Veterans Administration (VA) had an exemption from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, which allowed them to burn pathological, low-level radioactive and chemotherapeutic waste. The Boise VA was not testing for or monitoring pollutants from their incinerator. Aside from keeping records of the time periods when they are burning pathological, low-level radioactive and chemotherapeutic waste, no stack tests or other monitoring were required for this incinerator, and they were not required to inform the public when they are burning.
WVE would like to thank the numerous local citizens, who helped us educate and engage the local community about the health hazards of this incinerator. Our public campaign was successful in pursuading the Boise Veteran’s Administration Medical Center to close their incinerator.
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