The province will invest over $7 million to improve capacity, efficiency and environmental protection with a major reconstruction of the biomedical waste facility at the Brandon Regional Health Centre, Health Minister Theresa Oswald announced on Aug. 19.

“Manitoba is taking a major step forward in its environmental protection agenda with the development of a provincial plan for biomedical waste management,” said Oswald. “This facility will provide an innovative, environmentally friendly and cost-efficient way to manage biomedical waste.”

The new biomedical waste facility in Brandon will reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and comply with Canada-wide standards on dioxins and furans, toxic emissions released when plastic products are burned. In addition to improving air quality in Brandon, the new waste disposal facility is required to keep up with expanding health services in the region, the minister said.

“With a new CancerCare Centre and expanded Westman Lab on the way, Brandon needs a new biomedical waste facility to accommodate the increase in waste generated from expanded health services,” said Oswald, noting both facilities are expected to open early next year.

There are also 20 older incinerators in smaller hospitals around rural Manitoba. Rural regional health authorities (RHAs) have been seeking solutions for biomedical waste disposal and will have access to the Brandon facility once complete, which could serve up to nine rural RHAs in Manitoba. Specific guidelines will be set for proper containers that comply with all applicable safety standards markings. All regulations, guidelines and safety precautions will be taken within the RHAs when handling and preparing to handle any hazardous waste.

This new state-of-the-art facility will use a combination of recycling non-medical cardboard, wood and papers, shredding and sterilizing sharps, gloves and other non-recyclable materials and incineration of biomedical waste materials.

Hospital incinerators account for nearly 90 per cent of dioxins and furans released into the atmosphere in Manitoba and these emissions will be eliminated with the new Brandon facility and phasing-out of non-compliant incinerators in rural Manitoba, Oswald said.

The 15-month construction project is expected to generate approximately 164 direct and indirect jobs.