Several hospitals in central China have been involved in the illegal recycling of clinical waste, according to a China National Radio report.

And it was claimed that the waste was being ground into powder and used to manufacture disposable products such as plastic cups and spoons.

A resident in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan Province, uncovered the scandal after a three-month investigation.

Many hospitals in the city, including some prestigious ones, were involved, it was reported.

The resident, identified as Zhang, has reported his findings to the authorities. Zhengzhou's health bureau and the local sanitation department have set up a task force to investigate.

Zhengzhou police seized a van carrying six packages of medical waste from a hospital on May 3 after they were tipped off by Zhang.

Large quantities of waste, including potentially contaminated items such as needles and scalpels, were seized at an illegal workshop in Zhengzhou's suburbs, some bearing the marks and tags of top hospitals.

The waste was being ground into powder and used to make plastic cups and spoons at the workshop, according to the radio report.

Zhang uncovered the scandal when he visited a patient at Zhengzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital in January. He saw someone taking medical waste from the Class A hospital in a van.

Zhang visited the hospital, a model TCM hospital, several times after that and finally traced the workshop at the city's Huanggang Temple.

Clinical waste could potentially lead to the spread of infectious disease, according to the radio report.

(Shanghai Daily May 11, 2009)