Solid Waste Management in Basic Health Units

The objective of this study was to diagnose the management of solid waste in the Basic Health Units (BHU) of the Municipality of Parelhas, in Rio Grande do Norte - RN. For this, a descriptive research was carried out, with a quantitative approach, in 8 Unidades Básicas de Saúde (Basic Health Units) of the municipality of Parelhas/RN. Data collection was performed in the month of July 2022, through the application of a Roadmap for observation of the management of health service waste within the units, prepared based on the Resolution of the Collegiate Board No. 222/2018 of the National Health Surveillance Agency. Through the observations and application of the checklist, it was possible to identify the management of group A (Infectious), B (Chemical), C (Radioactive), D (Common) and E (Piercing) waste. In all UBS no group C waste was found. The packaging of these wastes is mostly contradictory to what is proposed by the standard and the current legislation. It was identified that the waste does not undergo any type of treatment before temporary storage, and that all units have an outsourced company for the collection and final disposal of Health Service Waste.