 Introduction

 Definition
 Classificationof health- care waste
 Sources of health-care waste
 Health hazards of health-care waste
 Treatment and disposal of health-care
waste
 Medical care is vital for life, health and well
being.
 But, the waste generated from medical
activities can be hazardous, toxic and even
lethal.
 Rag pickers and waste workers are often the
worst affected.
 Diseases transmitted- cholera, plague,TB,
HBV,HIV,diphtheria, etc.
 The rules framed by the Ministry of
Environment and Forests,Govt of India,
known as ‘Bio-medical waste (Management
and Handling) Rules 1998,’ notified on 20 th
July 1998 provides uniform guidelines and
code of practice.
 Bio-medical waste means any solid and/or
liquid waste including its container and any
intermediate product, which is generated
during the diagnosis, treatment or
immunization of human beings or animals or
in research pertaining thereto or in the
production or testing thereof.
 Infectious waste : contain pathogens-

swabs,waste from islolated wards

 Pathological waste : Human tissues or fluids

 Sharps: Needles,scalpels,knives, blades.

 Pharmaceutical waste : Pharmaceuticals that

have expired .
 Genotoxic waste : waste containing cytotoxic
drugs.
 Chemical waste : lab reagents,disinfectants that
are expired
 Waste with high content of heavy metals :
batteries,broken thermometres, blood –pressure
gauges .
 Radioactive waste
Institutions Involved:
 Govt hosp
 Private hosp
 Nursing homes
 Dispensaries
 Primary health care centres
 Medical research and training establisments
 Mortuaries
 Blood Banks and Collection centres
 Laboratories
MAIN GROUPS AT RISK :

 Medical doctors,nurses, hospital maintanence

personnel
 Patients in health –care establishments
 Visitors in health –care establishments
 Workers – waste handling,transportation,waste
disposal facilities such as land fills or incinerators
including scavengers
 Hazards from infectious waste and sharps:
Infection with HIV,Hepatitis B,C

 Hazards from Chemical and pharmaceutical waste

:Toxic,genotoxic,flammable,corrosive,reactive,

causing injuries, burns.

 Hazards from Genotoxic waste: Substance toxicity

,duration of exposure

 Hazards from Radioactive waste: Headache,

dizziness, vomiting,affect genetic material.
 Allhealth facilities should treat and dispose
the bio-medical waste as per schedule 1 of
the rules.
CATEGORY 1: Human Anatomical
Waste
10 CATEGORIES OF THE
BIOMEDICAL WASTES
OPTION WASTE CATEGORY TREATMENT AND
DISPOSAL

Category 1 Human Anatomical Incinerat/ deep

burial

Category 2 Animal Waste Same as above

Category 3 Microbiology and Autoclaving

biotechnology microwave
Category 4 Waste sharps Disinfection

Category 5 Discarded medicines Incineration,

and cytotoxic drugs landfill
OPTION WASTE TREATMENT AND
CATEGORY DISPOSAL

Category 6 Soiled waste Incinerat/autoclave

Category 7 Solid waste Chemical treatment

Category 8 Liquid waste Chemical treatment

Category 9 Incineration ash Municipal landfill

Category 10 Chemical waste Chemical treatment

 Segregation of waste-at point of generation.

 Bio-MedicalWaste Management Rules 1998

gives the colour coding for various categories
of waste.
COLOUR CODING OF ALL
THE CONTAINERS
Colour coding Waste category Treatment and
and container final disposal

Human Incineration and

anatomical ash disposal
Plastic bin with ,animal, through deep
yellow bag liner. Microbiology burial
and biotech
and soiled
waste.

Plastic bin with Waste sharps, Disinfect in 1% sod

blue bag liner solid waste hypochlorite
Colour coding Waste category Treatment and
and container final disposal
Puncture proof Sharps 1%sod
container /white Needles,broken hypochlorite.
glass pieces,cut
ampoules

Plastic container Discarded Secured landfill

with black medicines,cytot
plastic liner oxic
drugs,chemicals
 The waste from the containers should be
transported to the appropriate disposal
points.

 Allpersonnel responsible for the waste

containers should wear gloves,aprons,masks
and proper footwear.

 The personnel should wash their hands and

feet with soap and disinfectant solution after
handling of these containers.
 Cleaning should be undertaken twice daily
and all the waste from the dust bins should
be emptied twice a day.

 Noinfectious waste should be stored beyond

24 hours.
LABEL FOR BIOMEDICAL
WASTE
CONTAINERS/BAGS
 Bio-medical waste have to be transported to
the final disposal location.

 Properly
designed carts, trolleys and other
wheeled containers should be used.

 When transporting the waste, waste handlers

should use the personnel protection
equipment.
LABEL FOR TRANSPORT
STANDARDS: WORKING OF
INCINERATORS,
AUTOCLAVING AND
MICROWAVING
 High temperature thermal process.

 Combustion of waste under controlled

condition for converting them into inert
material and gases.

 3 types
1. Multiple hearth type
2. Rotary kiln
3. Controlled air types
 Process of steam sterilization under pressure

 Low heat process

 Steam is brought into direct contact with the

waste material for duration sufficient to
disinfect the material.

 3 types.
1. Gravity type
2. Pre-vacuum type
3. Retort type
 Wet thermal
disinfection
technology

 Itheats the
targeted material
from inside out
providing a high
level of
disinfection.
 Itinvolves use of
chemicals- atleast 1%
hypochlorite solution

 Minimum contact
period of 30 minutes

 Other chemical
reagents-phenolic
compounds,iodine,etc
 Deep burial of
human anatomical
waste
 Animal waste
 Autoclaved/micro
waved waste
 Incineration ash