Liquid bio-medical waste management strategy

Abstract

Bio-medical waste has become a major concern in the world over as it poses serious environmental hazard. The collection and disposal of bio-hazardous liquid can pose a significant risk and occupational challenge to hospital staff as microbial content in this waste may contain significant pathogens. Occupational risks associated with working in Health Care Establishments (HCE's), need to take proper precautions in handling any material from these centers.The scope of this study is limited to bio-medical liquid waste management as per Bio-medical waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 1998 prescribed by CPCB. The objective of this study was to assess the waste handling and treatment system of hospital biomedical liquid waste & its mandatory compliance with Regulatory Notification of Bio-medical waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 1998, under Environmental Protection Act-1986, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Government of India. In accordance with rules, every hospital generating liquid BMW needs to set up requisite treatment facilities of BMW in site. Here we have carried out detailed field study for liquid bio-medical waste in selected HCE's for quantification and characterization of liquid medical waste streams from the different facilities i.e. operation theatre laboratories etc. Also study the existing wastewater management system of these selected HCE's. To assess the feasibility of discharging the liquid bio-medical waste into sewer, with or without treatment and if treatment is required then use the techno-viable treatment schemes for HCE's.