Environmental Management in the Public Administration

The European Strategy for Environment and Health aims the adoption of environmental management policies in the Public Administration is an issue of great impact. This work presents the Environmental Management Plan of the Province Council of Jaén. To develop the Environmental Management Plan of the Council it was necessary to form a multidisciplinary team that developed the model of comprehensive waste management, which covers: classification, segregation, transportation, tours, storage and external transport. This team also elaborated a handbook of rules for prevention and protection of workers potentially exposed. Different types of waste were identified and classified: urban waste, which involves all the kitchen waste, paper, newspapers, flowers, glass, textiles, cardboard, etc.; biosanitary waste, which includes traumatic and nontraumatic waste. The first one involves syringes, needles, scalpels, etc., and the second one includes bandages, gauze, towels stained with blood, tubes, catheters, colostomy bags, etc. Residues that represent a chemical risk incorporate the remains of medicines, ampoules and vials and saline solutions containing the remains of medication. The centers that generate each of the different types of waste, types of containers used according to the classification made, times of collection and type of external transport were determined. Finally, the standards for the prevention of exposed workers were established: vaccination, handling rules, proceedings in case of accident, etc. Most of the waste generated by this kind of enterprise does not mean important effects for health. However, only a comprehensive approach to its management can obviate its environmental and social impact.