Diaper collection has been suspended in CASARANO, Italy, as last Saturday after the municipal administration reported the detection of radioactive elements in the waste. The contamination is believed to stem from residual organic liquids from patients undergoing radiological therapies.

The municipality of CASARANO, in agreement with Tekneko, the waste management service provider, has decided to suspend diaper collection until further notice from relevant authorities. The “Palazzo dei Dominicani” issued a press release to inform residents of the situation. The alarm originated at the Poggiardo treatment plant, where waste from CASARANO is processed. Recent samples of undifferentiated waste and diapers from CASARANO showed radioactivity levels exceeding legal limits.

“It is therefore appropriate to treat the waste that can come in contact with these organic liquids (diapers, diapers, absorbents, disposable gloves, etc.) in a separate way compared to other domestic waste.”

Proper Waste disposal Procedures

Mayor Ottavio de Nuzzo issued a statement emphasizing the importance of proper waste disposal following radiopharmaceutical treatments. “It is crucial to know that in the days following the execution of diagnostic tests and/or therapy with radiopharmaceutical therapy and/or chemotherapy, the organic liquids of the patients can still present traces of radioactivity,” he stated.

The statement further explained that waste that may have come into contact with these organic liquids, such as diapers, absorbent pads, and disposable gloves, should be handled separately from regular household waste.

“The radiopharmaceutical rapidly decreases by losing its radioactivity,” the note added. “Therefore, after a few days the refusal can be treated as a normal domestic waste and disposed of in the usual ways. In the event of radioactivity detection at the treatment system,the waste disposal cycle must be interrupted,in order to identify quantities and characteristics of the radionuclide. The collaboration of citizens (patients and/or their family members) is thus fundamental and can reduce/avoid the additional costs that inevitably generate in these cases. Just follow small precautions to avoid damage to the environment and additional costs to citizens.”

The recommended procedure involves collecting potentially contaminated waste in separate bags, storing them in a less frequented area like a closet, garage, or basement for a few days. Specifically, waste from diagnostic tests should be stored for a few days, while waste from therapies should be stored for at least one week. After the designated storage period, the bags can be disposed of in designated red containers for diapers.

Ecological operators have been instructed to suspend diaper collection pending new directives.