TY  - JOUR
AU  - de Oliveira, Isadora Muller
AU  - de Oliveira Vital, Letícia Caroline
AU  - de Siqueira Reis Regueira, Izabela
AU  - Mol, Marcos Paulo Gomes
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/11/11
TI  - Comparative Analysis of Healthcare Waste Legislation: Alignment and Discrepancies between Federal, State, and Municipal Regulations
JO  - Advances in Environmental and Engineering Research
SP  - 031
VL  - 06
IS  - 04
AB  - The management of healthcare waste (HCW) presents a significant environmental and public health challenge, aggravated by gaps in current Brazilian federal regulations. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of specific state and municipal legislation on HCW, comparing it with ANVISA Resolution No. 222/2018 and CONAMA Resolution No. 358/2005 to ascertain whether local regulations enhance management practices and can act as supplementary instruments to federal guidelines. The methodology was structured into three distinct phases: (I) a systematic survey of state and state capital regulations concerning HCW; (II) the development of a qualitative and quantitative analysis matrix to compare the identified local legislation with the federal reference frameworks; and (III) a complementary term-frequency analysis. A total of 33 legislative documents were identified, of which only six exhibited no significant divergences from the federal regulations. It is noteworthy that legal provisions establishing more stringent compliance deadlines, dedicated supervisory bodies, transparent decision-making processes, and a differentiated approach for small versus large generators can significantly contribute to an integrated, sustainable, and efficient HCW management system. Furthermore, initiatives related to the reverse logistics of pharmaceuticals and the regulation of household healthcare waste, areas not yet addressed at the federal level, represent notable advancements in promoting a circular economy. The findings of this study demonstrate that well-formulated local legislation strengthens the HCW management system by adapting it to regional specificities, thereby extending the reach of public policies and fostering circular economic models. The implementation of HCW generation indicators, effective oversight mechanisms, simplified criteria for small generators, the promotion of less-polluting treatment technologies, and robust environmental education programs are critical to developing a more integrated, sustainable, and efficient system that yields tangible benefits for public health and environmental protection.
SN  - 2766-6190
UR  - https://doi.org/10.21926/aeer.2504031
DO  - 10.21926/aeer.2504031
ID  - de Oliveira2025
ER  -