Biomedical Waste Disposal Guide - Procedure & Regulation

The management of biomedical waste in India is a challenging task that poses a lot of concern on the health of citizens and the environment at large. This is with regard to the fact that as the healthcare sector grows, especially in the developing world, and the amount of biomedical waste generated, proper management practices assumes even greater importance. Infectious waste, sharps, human pathological wastes, animal wastes, abandoned medicines and any articles contaminated with blood, saliva, urine or any other bodily fluids if not well managed are dangerous waste. The disposal process includes a number of steps, such as segregation, collection, treatment, and disposal, which can only be done by following the rules and regulations that are set by the government. The Biomedical Waste Management Rules 2016 also laid down certain protocols that should be followed to contain infection and pollutant biohazardous waste material. Nevertheless, barriers exist, namely a lack of proper institutions, the minimal identified awareness of health care workers, and the variability of regulations’ adherence. Besides, the COVID-19 situation has taken these problems to a new level since the volume of biomedical waste has drastically increased, and existing exhaust systems have suffered from it. Meeting these challenges entails upgrading the treatment facilities, work on the internal and external training needs of the healthcare workers, and tightening the implementation of the set standard. If these practices are enhanced, they will help in avoiding the impacts of biomedical waste on public health and thus help protect the environment.

Table Of Content

What is biomedical waste?

Biomedical waste (BMW) refers to all kinds of waste produced in the diagnosis or treatment of diseases affecting human beings or animals, in the process of vaccination, or in conducting research activities. This waste is pathogenic and toxic; it may cause harm to the health of those who will come into contact with it in case it is not well disposed of. These include used syringes, needles, bandages, human tissues, organs, body fluids, pharmaceutical products, chemicals, and discarded medical equipment.

This biomedical waste, if not disposed of properly, can cause the spread of diseases, pollute water and soil resources, and also expose people to hazardous chemicals. Due to such risks associated with biomedical wastes, standards and protocols have been followed for handling and disposal of these wastes, including segregation, collection, storage, transportation, and disposal. For example, in India, the BioMedical Waste Management Rules, 2016 have given clear guidelines to the healthcare facility to follow the biomedical waste management and disposal system.

Biomedical waste management requires segregation at the source, using containers of different colors depending on the waste, and then disposal through incineration, autoclaving, or microwaving depending on the waste in question. Applied management not only involves safeguarding people's health but also preserving the environment, thus making the environment safer and cleaner.

Regulations Governing Biomedical Waste Disposal

In India, biomedical waste has been regulated by the Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016. These rules were developed in order to put in place standard procedures for dealing with, treating, and disposing of biomedical waste. Key provisions include:

• Segregation: Any biomedical waste produced must be sorted into different groups with reference to the biomedical waste disposal regulations as follows: This is typically done using color-coded bags: yellow represents infectious waste, red represents contaminated plastic container waste, blue and white represent sharp waste, and black represents general waste.
• Treatment Facilities: The waste generated in the healthcare facilities can only be disposed of through Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facilities (CBWTFs). These are accompanied by various treatment technologies such as incineration, autoclaving, and shredding for proper disposal.
• Documentation and Compliance: There is also the requirement by the regulations to keep record of the kind of waste generated and disposed of. The rules stated above are to be followed, and the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) oversee the compliance of the same.

Disposal Process of Biomedical Waste

The process of disposal of biomedical waste has broken down into important steps in order to ensure that proper handling of the waste is upheld without any health effects to the public or environmental degradation. Below is a brief on the primary steps that are followed in the disposal process:

1. Waste Segregation

The disposal process starts at the source, where wastes are separated according to their class and physical state. Healthcare workers are also taught how to sort waste so as to avoid cross-contamination. Each type of waste is collected in specific bags or bins, which are red, blue, green, or yellow.

2. Storage and Transportation

Segregated waste is then disposed of in specific areas within health care facilities until it is collected and taken to the CBWTF. To avoid spillage or contact with the health of society during transportation of the waste, the containers are well sealed and labeled.

3. Treatment at CBWTFs

The waste then goes through different treatments in the CBWTF after it has been delivered there.

4. Final Disposal

This is followed by treatment, after which all the waste is contained and disposed of properly. The ash from the incineration process can be placed in landfills, while treated recyclables might go through further processing if they can pass safety measures. The disposal procedure is also controlled for the purpose of meeting requirements set for environmental protection.

Fees for Biomedical Waste Management Authorization

Granting Authorization under biomedical Waste Management Rule, 2016

S no.	Conditions	Fees
1.	Clinics/dispensaries without beds	₹1,000
2.	Healthcare facilities having less than 50 beds	₹3,000
3.	Healthcare facilities having more than 50 beds but more than 200 beds	₹5,000
4.	Healthcare facilities having more than 200 beds	₹10,000

Note: Professional Fees to obtain Biomedical Waste Management Authorization in ₹25,000 (only with Professional Utilities)

Validity of Biomedical Waste Management Authorization

Biomedical waste management authorization in India is contentious based on the categorization of the healthcare facility (HCF) and bedded or non-bedded status: 

• Red category HCFs: These HFCs produce more than 100 kiloliters per day (KLD) of wastewater and are valid for 5 years. 
• Orange category HCFs: These HCFs emit less than 100 kiloliters of water and all have a validity of 10 years.
• Bedded HCFs: These HCFs are evidently authorized automatically.
• Non-bedded HCFs: These HCFs get authorized only once. 

The authorization to be made for the HCF is lost if there are any alterations in the activities of the HCF. The prescribed authority has 90 days to counter the application, and in the absence of such a response, the authorization is deemed to have been granted.

Conclusion

The proper management of the biomedical waste across the country is very essential to protect the health of the people as well as the environment. As per the directives of the Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016, it is a methodical way of disposing all such waste through segregation, collection, treatment and lastly, disposing. However, there are still barriers, which include lack of infrastructure, lack of staff training, and regulation barriers. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified these problems because it led to the generation of much larger amounts of waste. Solving these problems entails improving working infrastructures, increasing the employees’ training level, and demanding compliance with the rules. Therefore, a safer environment and protection of public health are achieved with the help of the improved practices in managing biomedical waste in India.