All biological waste from Op Shared Responsibility has been disposed of safely

Last week, the Central Military Hospital - Faculty Hospital (CMH-FH) Ružomberok completed the disposal process for the biological waste produced at the test sites during the nation-wide mass testing campaign for COVID-19 as part of Op Shared Responsibility. A total of 183.7 tonnes of biological waste was incinerated.

Consistent with the requirements for handling and storage of hazardous waste as set out in the Ministry of Environment regulations, the biological waste was stored at the Mokraď - Jamník Military Facility in County Liptovský Mikuláš. “Throughout the entire period of storage until its compete disposal, the material was stored with maximum caution and safety, while adhering to current hazardous waste regulations in a way that neither local residents nor the environment at and around the storage site were endangered,” Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said reassuringly.

Having inspected the Mokraď - Jamník Military Facility, on 22 December 2020 the Liptovský Mikuláš County Office issued a permission for the CMH-FH Ružomberok to store hazardous waste for a period of 5 years. As the contracting authority, the CMH-FH Ružomberok put the waste disposal contract out to tender. Given that the Ministry of Environment granted an exception dated 25 February 2021, the tender was cancelled. In the exception, the Ministry of Environment authorised two waste incinerators in Slovakia to dispose of the biological waste. Subsequently, the CMH-FH Ružomberok started a new public procurement process through an e-auction with two companies as tenderers. The lowest priced tender was selected and the contract was awarded to KOSIT JSC Košice.