The study develops a quantitative evaluation of the problem of solid waste handling and disposal for a number of general hospitals selected randomly throughout the United States. Specifically, the study attempted to obtain data on both volume and density of the waste, related to various parameters of the hospital and the community; sources of waste in the hospital; collection and processing practices; and disposal proctices in the community, and the impact of such wastes on the community's collection and disposal system. Such data were obtained from more than 100 hospitals ranging in size from 50 to 1,000 beds. (Modified author abstract)