[Medical waste: the problem of handling].

The paper provides the environmental and hygienic characteristics of medical waste, the necessity of introducing a new system of collection, storage, transportation, and removal of waste from health care facilities. In accordance with SanPiN 2.1.7.728-99 (subparagraph 8.7.9.3a), an enterprise for thermal decontamination of hazardous waste should be necessarily set up with the purpose of possible removal of classes B and C garbage to the polygons, which will secure medical waste to man and the environment.