The Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (“Ministry”) and Central Pollution Control Board, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (“CPCB”) has issued the Guidelines for ‘Management of Healthcare Waste as per Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016 ‘ (“Guidelines”) to classify and direct the disposal of healthcare waste generated from industries and health care providers.

Key Highlights:

Following are the responsibility of Health Care Facility (“HCF”) for management and handling of bio-medical waste:

1. Biomedical Waste should be segregated at the point of generation by the person who is generating the waste in designated colour coded bin/ container
2. Biomedical Waste & General Waste shall not be mixed. Biomedical Waste & General Waste shall not be mixed. Storage time of waste should be as less as possible so that waste storage, transportation and disposal is done within 48 hours.
3. Phase out use of chlorinated plastic bags (excluding blood bags) and gloves by 27/3/2019.
4. No secondary handling or pilferage of waste shall be done at healthcare facility. If Common Bio Medical Waste Treatment Facility (“CBWTF”) facility is available at a distance of 75km from the HCF, bio-medical waste should be treated and disposed only through such CBWTF operator.
5. Only Laboratory and Highly infectious waste shall be pre-treated onsite before sending for final treatment or disposal through a CBWTF Operator.
6. Provide bar-code labels on all colour coded bags or containers containing segregated bio-medical waste before such waste goes for final disposal through a CBWTF
7. To ensure that all the legal requirements related to the Bio Medical Waste Management are complied with and are regularly updated.
8. To ensure that annual reports and accidents reports are submitted to SPCB in a timely manner.
9. To ensure that bio-medical waste is handled without any adverse effect to human health and the environment.
10. To make a provision within the premises for a safe, ventilated and secured location for storage of segregated biomedical waste at central storage area.
11. To ensure that there shall be no secondary handling, pilferage of recyclables or inadvertent scattering or spillage by animals.
12. To ensure that bio-medical waste from central storage area or the premises shall be directly transported to the common bio-medical waste treatment facility for the appropriate treatment and disposal.

Following activities to be followed to ensure proper waste segregation:

1. Waste must be segregated at the point of generation of source and not in later stages. As defined earlier too, “Point of Generation” means the location where wastes initially generate, accumulate and is under the control of doctor / nursing staff etc. who is providing treatment to the patient and in the process generating bio-medical waste
2. Posters / placards for bio-medical waste segregation should be provided in all the wards as well as in waste storage area.
3. Adequate number of colour coded bins / containers and bags should be available at the point of generation of bio-medical waste.
4. Colour coded plastic bags should be in line with the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. Specifications for plastic bags and containers given at Annexure 1 of the document attached.
5. Provide Personnel Protective Equipment to the bio-medical waste handling staff.

Procedure for Authorization

1. The In charge of the HCF needs to apply to the respective State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) in respect of States or Pollution Control Committees (PCC) in respect of Union Territories for fresh or renewal of authorization, for the activities being carried out in handling of Bio Medical Waste Management by the health care facility.
2. Application must be submitted to the respective SPCB/PCC for fresh or renewal of authorization in prescribed format as per Form II as prescribed under Bio Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016.

The Information requirements of Application

1. Some Particulars of Health Care Facilities: Name, Address, Contact Details etc.
2. Validity of Consents under Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 (in case of bedded HCFs).
3. Detail of HCF: Number of beds, Average number of patient treated per month.
4. Category wise Quantity of Waste Generated or disposed by the HCF.
5. Detail of any treatment facility available in the premises of HCF.

Source: Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change

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