Essential Action
GLOBAL RESPONSE ACTION UPDATE, OCTOBER 1997

Stop Medical Waste
Incineration in India


The World Bank's Sector Manager for Health, Population and Nutrition of the South Asia Region responded to our letters, saying the Bank has "decided not to involve itself in the incineration of [halogen-containing] wastes, unless we have been assured that adequate safeguards are in place." During the next year, the Bank will develop a comprehensive strategy for dealing with medical waste in India, and would be "very glad to hear your views" once the strategy is completed. The good news is that the Bank's State Health Systems Development Project II will build no medical waste incinerators during the year of this study -- and that's ONLY because of our international letter campaign!!!

ACTION: We have been asked by the Indian Campaign Against Medical Waste Incineration, Toxics Link-New Delhi, and the Health Care Without Harm Campaign (US) to write back to the Bank making these points:

  • We appreciate the World Bank's response to our concerns
  • Many wastes besides halogen-containing wastes pose threats to public and environmental health when incinerated. Burning any wastes besides pathogenic wastes should be prohibited.
  • We are unaware of any incinerator technology that does not create toxic pollution, so we would like to know exactly what the Bank considers "adequate safeguards."
  • We urge the World Bank to invite the full participation of the three organizations mentioned above and other concerned members of the public in the development of the Bank's strategy, rather than as respondents once the strategy is defined.
  • We would like assurances that the lessons the World Bank is learning in India will be applied to other countries where the Bank is currently funding medical waste incinerators.
Please send your letters to:

Richard L. Skolnik, Sector Manager
Health, Population and Nutrition Unit
South Asia Region
The World Bank
1818 H Street NW
Washington DC 20433

cc: Robert Watson, Director
Environment Department
The World Bank
1818 H Street NW
Washington DC 20433

GLOBAL RESPONSE is an international letter-writing network of environmental activists. In partnership with indigenous, environmentalist and peace and justice organizations around the world, GLOBAL RESPONSE develops Actions that describe specific, urgent threats to the environment; each Action asks members to write personal letters to individuals in the corporations, governments or international organizations that have the power and responsibility to take corrective action. GR also issues Young Environmentalists' Actions and Eco-Club Actions designed to educate and motivate elementary and high school students to practice earth stewardship.

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