BIOMEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT:

AN OVERVIEW

Priza Ghosh
Department Of Biomedical
Engineering,
Netaji Subhash Engineering
College, Kolkata
CONTENTS
 Definition.
 Basic Principles.
 Potential health risk of biomedical waste.
 Classification of waste.
 Management & Handling Rules.
 Categories of biomedical waste.
 Segregation of waste.
 Colour coding
 Points to remember.
DEFINITIONS

 Biomedical Waste:

Waste generated in the diagnosis, treatment

and immunization of human beings or animals, in
research or
in the production and testing of biological products.
BASIC PRINCIPLES

 Biomedical waste shall not be mixed with other waste.

 Segregation at source – both at ward and unit level.
 Colour coding to support segregation at source.
 Biomedical waste shall be segregated into
containers/bags at the point of generation in
accordance with BMW rules 1998 prior to its storage,
transportation, treatment and disposal.
BASIC PRINCIPLES
 The container should be labeled according to BMW
Rules 1998.
 Identify destination fro each type of waste and ensure
safe disposal.
 Keep track of usage.
POTENTIAL HEALTH RISKS OF
BIOMEDICAL WASTE
 AIDS
 Hepatitis B&C
 Gastro-enteric
 Infections
 Respiratory Infections
 Blood Stream infections
 Skin infections
 Effects of radio active substances
 Intoxication
CLASSIFICATION OF WASTE:

All hospital wastes can be classified into:

 Non hazardous waste-80%
 Bio hazardous waste-20%

 Bio hazardous waste:

• Infectious waste - 15%(sharps, non sharps, plastics disposables

,liquid waste)
• Non infectious waste - 5%(radioactive waste, discarded glass,

chemical waste, cytotoxic waste, incinerated waste)

BIO MEDICAL WASTE:
(MANAGEMENT AND HANDLING RULES)

 Every hospital generating Biomedical waste need to set

up requisite Biomedical waste treatment facilities to
ensure requisite treatment of waste.

 No untreated Biomedical waste shall be kept stored

beyond a period of 48 hours.
CATEGORIES OF BIOMEDICAL WASTE:
OPTION WASTE CATEGORY TREATMENT &
DISPOSAL
Category No.1 Human Anatomical Incineration/Deep burial
Waste(Human tissue, organ,
body parts)

Category No.2 Animal Waste(animal tissue, Incineration/Deep burial

organ, body parts)

Category No.3 Microbiology & Local autoclaving/

Biotechnology Waste(Waste microwaving/
from laboratory cultures) incineration

Category No.4 Waste sharps(needles, blades Shredding/disinfection

etc)

Category No.5 Discarded Medicines and Incineration

cytotoxic drugs( waste
comprising of outdated,
contaminated and discarded
medicine)
CATEGORIES OF BIOMEDICAL WASTE
(CONTINUED) :
OPTION WASTE CATEGORY TREATMENT &
DISPOSAL
Category No.6 Soiled waste(items Incineration/
contaminated with blood microwaving
including cotton and
dressing)
Category No.7 Solid Waste(waste generated Disinfection by chemical
from disposal items) treatment/ microwaving

Category No.8 Liquid waste(waste Disinfection by chemical

generated from lab washing , treatment and discharge
cleaning etc) into drains
Category No.9 Incineration ash(Ash from Disposal in municipal
incineration of any landfill
biomedical waste)

Category No.10 Chemical waste(chemical Incineration

used in production of
biological and disinfection)
SEGREGATION OF WASTE

 It should be done at the site of generation of BMW.

 The responsibility of segregation should be with the
generator of BMW, i.e. Doctors, nurses, technician etc.
 The biomedical waste should be segregated as per
categories applicable.
 All the bags/containers must be labeled Bio-hazard or
cytotoxic symbols according to the rules.
 COLOR CODING & THE TYPE OF
CONTAINER FOR DISPOSAL OF
BIOMEDICAL WASTE
COLOUR TYPE OF WASTE CATEGORY TREATMENT &
CODING CONTAINER DISPOSAL
Yellow Plastic Bag Categories 1,2,3 & 6. Incineration/
Deep burial
Red Disinfected Categories 3,6,7 Autoclaving/
container/ microwaving/
plastic bag chemical treatment

Blue/White Plastic bag/ Categories 4 & 7 Autoclaving/

translucent puncture proof microwaving/
container chemical treatment
& destruction/
shredding
Black Plastic bag Categories 5,9,10 Disposal in secured
landfill
POINTS TO REMEMBER
 Chemical treatment is done by using at least 1% sodium
hypochlorite solution and disinfection must be
ensured.
 No chemical pretreatment before incineration.
 No chlorinated plastics to be incinerated.
 Deep burial only in areas with less than 5L people.
 Biomedical waste should be transported within the
hospital by means of wheeled trolleys that are not used
for any other purpose.
 Health Care Workers Should have the Knowledge of
Biomedical waste management.
THANKS

MANAGE WASTE NOW… ITS

OUR RESPONSIBILITY..