Performance and health assessment of the solid waste recycling centers in Jouybar and Qaemshahr counties, Iran (2018)

The recycling and separation of waste from the source could reduce the amount of unusable waste. Workers in this sector are exposed to severe health complications. The present study aimed to assess the health status of waste recycling workshops in Jouybar and Ghaemshahr, Iran in 2018. In this descriptive, cross-sectional study, data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire, the reliability of which has been confirmed. Among 400 workshops in the mentioned cities, 90 were selected via cluster sampling, and the questionnaires were completed. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 24 and Excel software using the analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results indicated that 58% of the floors of the workshops, 71% of the walls of the workshops, and 70% of the ceilings of the non-sanitary waste collection workshops were preserved in accordance with the relevant regulations. However, 31% of wastewater contaminated the environment and agricultural lands in the vicinity of the workshops. Only 6% of the employees reported to have taken periodic examinations, and the majority of the workers used no work clothes and gloves. In addition, only 2.2% of the workers were vaccinated. Most of the studied workshops only performed a breakdown without making specific changes in the waste materials. According to the results, the health status of the waste recycling workshops and its workers was unfavorable. Therefore, I is recommended that regulators and policymakers be aware of the needs and vulnerabilities of these workers and identify the effective interventions for their health protection.