In this research the Health Care Waste of Group A (Resíduos de Serviço de Saúde - RSS), collected from six hospitals in Vitoria (ES), Brazil, was quantified and classified according with ANVISA's Resolution RDC nº 306/2004. The waste was packaged without segregation and afterwards separated by groups and subgroups, with the following results/percentages: 57% Group D - common; 41% Group A - biological risk; 1.5% Group B - chemical risk; and 0.05% Group E - sharps. The apparent bulk density was 106.2 kg/m3. The average production rate of this mixture was 2.68 kg per occupied bed daily. By separating the mixture of the RSS from group D, the average production rate of Group A changed to 1.15 kg per occupied bed daily, reducing incineration costs by 58%. By segregating Groups B, D, E and subgroup A4, the average production rate changed to 0.18 kg per occupied bed per day with a reduction of 93% in incineration costs.
healthcare waste management; health care waste; classification of healthcare waste; waste; gravimetric characterization of healthcare waste