Integral and Sustainable Management of Hazardous Waste in Urban Veterinary Clinics: Analysis of Environmental Impacts and Intervention Proposal

Abstract

Veterinary practice, focused on animal welfare, also entails responsibilities for human health and environmental protection. This research analyzed the management of hazardous waste in five urban veterinary clinics in La Maná, Ecuador, through structured interviews with administrators and surveys of 55 staff members. The analysis was performed using SPSS v. 22, enabling the quantification of waste generation by clinical area and the evaluation of environmental impacts through a cause-effect matrix. As an intervention proposal, an action plan was developed. The results showed that only one clinic hired the services of an authorized waste manager. Only 21.82% of the staff had received training, with a significant correlation between training and regulatory knowledge (p < 0.05). Waste generation rates ranged from 0.08 to 4.65 kg/day, with significant environmental impacts identified in the cause-effect matrix, particularly related to foul odors, indicating deficiencies in waste inactivation. The study emphasizes the importance of addressing these impacts through containment measures, such as the implementation and adjustment of inactivation protocols and the hiring of authorized waste managers, to mitigate environmental and health risks.