Table 1: Medical waste management practices and challenges in South African provinces.

Province Segregation Temporary Storage Area Transportation Treatment and Disposal Major Challenges Reference
Eastern Cape Inadequate Insecure storage areas Onsite transportation marginally adequate. Inconsistent transportation offsite Open burning on site, illegal disposal on general landfills Lack of policy, low budgeting, lack of staff training Vumase (2009)
Maseko (2014)
[35, 7]
Free State Inadequate Storage areas are compliant with standards Insufficiently dedicated trolleys for onsite transportation. Inconsistent transportation offsite Burning Lack of budget and training Vumase (2009)
Mahasa & Ruhiiga (2014)
[35, 48]
Gauteng Adequate Storage areas are compliant with standards Dedicated trolleys are available for onsite transportation. Inconsistent transportation offsite Out-sourcing to private companies Vumase (2009)
[35]
KwaZulu -Natal Inadequate Storage areas not compliant with standards Insufficiently dedicated trolleys for onsite transportation. Inconsistent offsite transportation Illegal dumping, burning Lack of equipment Vumase (2009)
Gabela & Knight (2010) Hangulu & Akinola (2017)
[35, 50, 17]
Limpopo Inadequate Storage areas are compliant with standards Insufficiently dedicated trolleys for onsite transportation. Inconsistent offsite transportation Burning, incineration, out-sourcing Lack of training Vumase (2009)
Mashao (2013)
Raphela (2014)
[35, 51, 52]
Mpumalanga Inadequate Storage areas are compliant with standards Insufficiently dedicated trolleys for onsite transportation. Inconsistent offsite transportation Incineration Lack of training and equipment Vumase (2009)
Makhura, et al. (2016)
Ream, et al. (2016)
[35, 53, 54]
Northern Cape Inadequate Different available sites are used for storage Onsite transportation marginally adequate. Inconsistent transportation offsite Out-sourcing Lack of treatment facilities Vumase (2009)
Motlatla (2015)
[35, 46]
North West Adequate Storage areas not constructed and operated according to standards Dedicated trolleys are used onsite. Inconsistent transportation offsite Out-sourcing Insufficient personal protective equipment Mudau (2007)
Vumase (2009)
[47, 35]
Western Cape Inadequate Poorly sanitized storage areas Dedicated trolleys are used onsite. Daily transportation offsite Incineration, autoclave, out-sourcing Lack of manual for staffs Abor (2007)
Vumase (2009)
[55, 35]