COST OPTIMIZATION OF MEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT IN OWERRI METROPOLIS

Medical waste management consists of environmental, operational, and financial challenges in fast growing Nigerian cities. Existing medical waste management practices was assessed in this study and a cost prediction and optimization framework for selected healthcare facilities in Owerri Municipality, Imo State, Nigeria was developed.Data were got from 15 healthcare facilities and analyzed using descriptive statistics, multiple linear regression, model validation, cost-per-kilogram efficiency assessment and an optimization framework.Segregation at source was reported by eight (8) facilities at 53.33%, treatment before disposal by two (2) facilities at 13.33%, and direct disposal by thirteen (13) at 86.67%; open burning or dumping was observed in eleven (11) facilities at 73.33%, while recycling or recovery was not reported in any facility.The total-cost regression model achieved R² = 0.997351 and adjusted R² = 0.993819 and was statistically significant (F = 282.38;Significance F = 3.7 × 10⁻⁷).The identified significant cost predictors were; Total waste quantity, number of beds and disposal distance.The findings support improved segregation, waste minimization, coordinated routing and collection scheduling as practical cost-management strategies.The model should be applied within the conditions represented by the sampled facilities and validated with broader datasets before wider use.