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Circular Economy in Conjunction with Treatment Methodologies in the Biomedical and Dental Waste Sectors

Author

Listed:
  • Maria Antoniadou

    (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens)

  • Theodoros Varzakas

    (University of Peloponnese)

  • Ioannis Tzoutzas

    (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens)

Abstract

In this review, life cycle assessment (LCA) principles are coupled with circular economy (CE) in order to address LCA examples in the biomedical sector worldwide. The objectives were (1) to explore the application of LCA in the medical, pharmaceutical, and dental fields; (2) to describe the ways of biomedical waste management; (3) to emphasize on the problem of dental waste in private and public dental sectors; and (4) to propose ways of “green circulation” of the dental waste. A literature search was performed using the Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus search engines covering the period from January 2000 until May 2020, corresponding to articles investigating the LCA and circular economy principles and legislation for biomedical and dental waste, their management options, and modern ways of recycling. The results showed that incineration seems to be the best management way option involved despite the mentioned drawbacks in this technology. Different adopted models are well defined for the dental field based on the 3Rs’ module (reduce, reuse, recycle). Replacing disposable products with reusable ones seems to be a good way to tackle the problem of waste in medical and dental sectors. Interventions on the selection and better biomedical and dental waste management will ensure eco-medicine and eco-dentistry of the future. These new terms should be the new philosophies that will change the way these fields operate in the future for the benefit of the professionals/patients and the community.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Antoniadou & Theodoros Varzakas & Ioannis Tzoutzas, 2021. "Circular Economy in Conjunction with Treatment Methodologies in the Biomedical and Dental Waste Sectors," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 1(2), pages 563-592, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:circec:v:1:y:2021:i:2:d:10.1007_s43615-020-00001-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s43615-020-00001-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Marcelo Werneck Barbosa, 2022. "A Critical Appraisal of Review Studies in Circular Economy: a Tertiary Study," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 2(2), pages 473-505, June.
    2. Lais R. Lima & Rafaela F. Gutierrez & Sandra A. Cruz, 2022. "A Perspective of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Plastic Waste Management and Cooperatives of Waste Pickers in Brazil," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 2(3), pages 903-913, September.
    3. Biswajit Debnath & Shiladitya Ghosh & Neelanjan Dutta, 2022. "Resource Resurgence from COVID-19 Waste via Pyrolysis: a Circular Economy Approach," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 2(1), pages 211-220, March.
    4. Shaik Anwar Ahamed Nabeela Nasreen & Subramanian Sundarrajan & Syed Abdulrahim Syed Nizar & He Wei & Dong Xuecheng & Seeram Ramakrishna, 2022. "Pyrolysis, Microwave, Chemical and Biodegradation Methodology in Recycling of Plastic Waste: a Circular Economy Concept," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 2(2), pages 609-632, June.

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