Environmental waste, especially pharmaceuticals and toxins, needs high-level action to stop its major contribution to antimicrobial resistance

Hundreds of tonnes of hazardous medical waste has built up in a backlog blamed on the shortage of licensed treatment facilities in Gauteng.

Allegations of bribery, tender-rigging and health violations follow Northern Cape bid to clean up.

The province’s health department is accused of crooked medical waste contract practices.

The Green Scorpions have uncovered another 20 tons of medical waste, buried at an unused gold mine outside Welkom, a spokesperson said on Thursday.