Biomedical Waste Management

Abstract

Bio medical waste (BMW) disposal is a very important yet a challenging task. Health care waste contains potentially harmful microorganisms, which can infect hospital patients, health workers, and the general public. Exposure to hazardous health care waste can result in disease or injury. The Government of India has been laying down rules, namely, Bio Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, in 1998, COVID-19 pandemic and its consequent biomedical waste is an unprecedented challenge worldwide. Biomedical waste generated during COVID-19 patient isolation, testing and care needs special consideration as it challenges the previous notion that only 15–20% of waste can be considered infectious. With establishment of new home quarantine facility, isolation/quarantine centers the chances of general waste getting contaminated with biomedical waste has increased exponentially. The key step in COVID19 waste management is segregation of biomedical waste from solid waste. Waste generated from COVID19 patients is like any other infectious waste, therefore creating public awareness about the COVID19 waste hazards and segregation at source is highlighted in all guidelines as a recommendation.