OBJECTIVE: was to investigate the process of waste management of dental public health service in eleven counties. MATERIAL AND METHOD: one researcher conducted the visits, and observations were recorded on a previously elaborated and tested. RESULT: We visited 50 health units, and none presented a copy of the waste management plan. Of the total 62% of businesses held the correct segregation of waste at the time of his generation. The presence of containers suitable for each type of waste generated at the dental office was observed in 74% and of those, 94% had adequate capacity for the type of waste generated. The identification of the type of waste in plastic containers and annotations identifying the establishment from which the waste was found in 8% and 6% respectively. Only 21% of establishments had appropriate locations, according to the current regulations for the storage of waste until collection was done outside. CONCLUSION: It was found in this study that the routine adopted by public oral health, regarding the management of healthcare waste had flaws.
Waste management; dental waste; medical waste; public health