The presents General University Hospital (GUH) as a producer of waste from 1 800 to 2 000 bedsmustorganize themanagementofwastedepartments inanacceptable nonoxious manner. From an ecological point of view it is important to separate the various kinds of waste producer which must then be kept in safe containers at selected places, protected against degradation, obstruction and leakage. Since, at the present time the GUH possesses neither an incinerator nor disposal site facilities the different hospital waste fraction are taken by specialized companies responsible for its treatment and final disposal. Proper separation of waste has important influence on the hospital budget. While the price of the mixed communal waste disposal in now approximately 2.200 CZK per tonne, the specific sanitary hospital waste treatment cost 7.800CZK per tonne. For this reason the GUH has its own internal directive with rules for handling all kinds of waste. According to this directive one person is nominated as responsible for waste treatment to manage the hospital waste at each work place, clinic and institute. The management of all of the hospital waste is the responsibility of the operational division of the hospital. The directive lists basic rules for safety, personal protection and emergency measures in case of accidents. This directiveis part of the hospital operating instructions, based on the requirements of law No. 258/2000 on Protection of Public Health, Waste Management Act No. 185/2001 and theMethodological Instruction of the Ministry ofHealth of the Czech Republic issued in 2001. The expected development of the present practice and future challenges in this field are discussed.

        Key words: hospital waste – waste management – waste incineration – steam disinfection – microwave disinfection