Community concerns about a healthcare-waste incinerator

Abstract

This study explored community concerns about the impact of a healthcare-waste (HCW) incinerator site in Yala Province, Thailand. A structured questionnaire was used to gather data from 300 respondents twice: before and after the incinerator commenced operation. The Chi-square test was used to identify changes in concerns and the impact of distance. The results showed high levels of concern regarding the environment and health, and the nuisance related to HCW and the incinerator. The impacts associated with distance were air pollution, adverse health effects, and nuisance related to waste vehicles. In addition, the HCW incinerator site affected sources of drinking water and resulted in road damage. Location of incinerator site, people's low education level, lack of public participation, trust in the project vendor, acceptability of incinerator technology, and job benefits might be enabling factors for the success of an HCW-incineration site. © 2011 Taylor & Francis.