BIOMEDICAL WASTE

Definition:

Bio medical waste - Any waste which is generated during the diagnosis, treatment,
immunization of human beings or animals, research activities, testing of biological fluids etc.
The biowaste produced in the course of health care activities carries a higher potential for
infection and injuries than any other types of waste.

Health services may generate large quantity of wastes and by-products that need to be
handled safely and disposed properly. Hospital waste is a risk for patients and personnel,
who handle these wastes, possess a threat to public health and environment. Proper
management of biomedical waste is essential to maintain hygiene, cleanliness and control
environmental pollution.

Government of India notified the National Biomedical waste (Management and handling)
Rules in July 1998. Ministry of environment and forest, Government of India has notified the
new biomedical waste rules 2016 on march 28 th. These rules are called as Biomedical waste
Management Rules 2016.

NOTE- Categories table should be written on Right Side (RULED PAPER)

Biomedical waste can be categorized as:

CATEGORIES NAME OF WASTE DESCRIPTION

WASTES

Human anatomical Blood and blood products,

Category No.1 waste Placenta, excised tumours, Body parts,
Human tissues, Excreta.

Experimental animal tissues used in

Category No.2 Animal waste research, waste generated by veterinary
hospitals and animal houses.
Human and animal cell cultures, Culture
Category No.3 Microbiology and
media and plates, Vaccine wastes, infectious
Biotechnology waste
agents from research
Needles, Syringes, Scalpels, glass pieces,
Category No.4 Waste Sharps
broken ampules
Discarded medicine and
Category No.5 Discarded and expired medicines
cytotoxic drugs

Category No.6 Soiled waste Soiled cotton dressings, plaster casts,

soiled beddings, gloves, masks

Category No.7 Solid waste IV Sets and tubings, catheters

Bleaching powder solution, household
Category No.8 Liquid waste
phenyl solution.
 Ash generated from incineration of
Category No.9 Incineration Ash
biomedical waste
Category No.10 Chemicals waste Bleaching powder, DDT
Biomedical waste poses hazard due to its infectivity and toxicity. Only 15 - 20% of the waste
in a health care facility is biomedical waste and remaining 80% is normal domestic waste.
Main groups at risk are doctors, nurses, paramedical workers, patients, workers in allied
services (laundry, waste handling and transportation) and workers in waste disposal
facilities.

Reasons why proper biomedical waste management in hospitals are required:

• Injuries from sharps and hazardous chemicals can cause infections to all health care personnel
and waste handlers.
• Nosocomial infections in patients from poor infection control practices and poor
waste management.
• Risk of infection outside the hospital for waste handlers, scavengers and general
public living in the vicinity of hospitals.
• “Disposables” can be repacked and sold by unscrupulous elements.
• Drugs which have been disposed can be repacked and sold.
• Risk of air, water and soil pollution due to poor waste management and defective
incineration emissions.

Different steps of Biomedical Waste Management Processing include:

• Waste collection
• Segregation
• Storage
• Transport to final disposal site
• Treatment and Final disposal

Collection:
Biomedical waste must be collected from various places like Operation theatre, laboratory,
wards, kitchen, corridor etc. The containers/ bins should be placed in such a way that 100%
collection is achieved. Sharps must always be kept in puncture-proof containers to avoid
injuries and infection to the workers handling them.

Segregation:

Segregation refers to the basic separation of different categories of waste generated at

source.
Uses of segregation:
 Prevents the mixture of medical waste like sharps with the general municipal
waste.
 Prevents illegal reuse of used syringes, needles and other plastics.
 Provides an opportunity for recycling plastics after proper and thorough
disinfection.
 Reduces the risk of injuries and infections while handling the waste.
 Bio medical waste should be segregated into containers/bags at the point of
generation itself.

NOTE- COLOUR CODING SYSTEM OF BIOMEDICAL WASTE SEGREGATION should be written on LEFT
SIDE (PLAIN PAPER)

COLOUR CODING SYSTEM FOR SEGREGATION OF BIOMEDICAL WASTE

COLOUR TYPE OF WASTE CATEGORY TREATMENT

CODE CONTAINER OPTIONS

Non-chlorinated a) Human Anatomical Waste Incineration/

plastic bags b) Animal Anatomical Waste Deep burial
Separate collection C) Soiled Waste
system leading to d) Expired or Discarded
YELLOW effluent treatment Medicines
system e) Chemical Waste
f) Micro, Bio-t and other clinical
lab waste
g) Chemical Liquid Waste
Non-chlorinated Contaminated Waste (Recyclable) Autoclaving/
plastic bags or tubing, bottles, intravenous tubes microwaving/hydroclaving
container and sets, catheters, urine bags, and then sent for recycling.
RED s syringes (without needles) Not be sent to landfill
and gloves

(Translucent) Waste sharps including Metals Auto or Dry Heat

Puncture, Leak, Sterilization
WHITE tamper proof followed by shredding or
encapsulation
containers
BLUE Cardboard boxes Glassware Disinfection/autoclaving,
with blue colored Microwaving/hydroclaving
marking and then sent for recycling

All non- infectious waste. Disposal in

Kitchen waste. All covers, secured land
BLACK PLASTIC BAG wrapper, paper, empty boxes fills
and office waste.

The bags should carry the biohazard symbol indicating the nature of waste to the patients
and public. Label shall be non-washable and prominently visible.
NOTE-DIAGRAMS TO BE DRAWN ON LEFT SIDE(PLAIN PAPER)
Storage:

Collected biomedical waste should be stored in a proper place. The duration of storage should
not exceed 8-10 hrs in tertiary hospitals and 24 hrs in small nursing homes. Storage area
should be marked with a caution sign.

Transportation:

The waste should be transported for treatment in trolleys. Manual loading should be
avoided. The bags and containers should be sealed tightly before transportation.

Use of protective gears like Heavy-duty rubber gloves, Aprons, Gowns, Masks, Goggles, and
Face shields, Leg coverings, Boots etc should be made mandatory for all the personnel who
are handling waste.

A document must be signed by concerned authority (Doctor/ nurse/ housekeeping

supervisor) mentioning date, shifting material, quantity and destination before transporting
the bags containing biomedical waste.

Treatment and Disposal Technologies for Biomedical Waste:

• Incineration
• Chemical disinfection
• Wet and dry thermal treatment
• Microwave irradiation
• Land disposal