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SUMMARY OF ‘THE BIO-MEDICAL WASTE
(MANAGEMENT AND HANDLING) RILES,1998’
(Efforts are made to provide simplified comprehension of the rules. The comprehension is not expected to cover all aspects of the rules. Interested persons may refer to the rules in detail for clarification of doubts.)
These rules are framed by Govt. of India under the Environment (Protection) Act 1986. They were first notified in July, 1998, and amended in June 2000.
These rules are applicable to all persons who generate , collect , receive, store, transport, treat ,dispose or handle Bio-medical waste in any form.
As defined in these rules, ‘Bio-medical’ waste means any waste generated during diagnosis, treatment or immunization of human beings or animals. A person who has control over hospital, nursing home, clinic, dispensary, veterinary institution, animal house, pathology laboratory, blood bank is an ‘Occupier’, who is required to take all steps to ensure that Bio-medical waste produced by his institution is handled without any adverse effect to human health and environment. These rules have categorized the Bio-medical waste in ten categories, identifying suitable mode of disposal for the waste of the individual category (schedule I). As per Rule 8, the ‘Occupier’ of the institution is required to obtain authorization for handling of Bio-medical waste from the Prescribed Authority (State Pollution Control Board). The application for authorization should be in form I and accompanied with the fee prescribed by the State Govt. (Rs. 200/-). An application for authorization is required to be made for all hospitals, nursing homes, veterinary institutions, and animal houses. The Occupier of the clinics dispensaries, pathological laboratories and blood banks where treatment/ service is provided to more than (1000) patients per should also apply for the authorization. Even the Occupier who is not required to apply for authorization, (the clinics, dispensaries, pathological laboratories and blood banks where treatment/ service is provided to less than one thousand patients per month) will be an offender of these Rules, if it is found that he/she has not taken all steps to ensure that the Bio-medical waste produced by his/ her institution is handled without adverse effect to human health and the environment. Offence under these Rules shall attract the penalties stipulated under the Environment (Protection) Act.1986. Section 15 of the said Act stipulates the penalty of imprisonment which may extend upto 5 years of fine upto Rs. 1 lakh or both.
The authorization granted shall be valid for a period of 3 years. The occupier needs to apply for renewal thereafter. The Occupier is required to submit annual report to the Prescribed Authority by 30th January every year, giving details of the quantity and mode of treatment of Bio-medical waste generated by his institution. He is also required to report accidents if any to the Prescribed Authority.
Vide the amendment rules dated 2nd June,2000, responsibility has been laid on local muncipal authorities for providing suitable common disposal/ incineration site for Bio-medical waste generated in the area under their jurisdiction. However, this provision is without prejudice to the rules pertaining to the responsibility of the Occupier, which means that it is the responsibility of the Occupier to make his/her own arrangement for disposal of Bio-medical waste generated by his/her institution, till such time the local muncipal authorities make an arrangement for providing common disposal site
SCHEDULE I
(See Rule 5)
CATEGORIES OF BIO-MEDICAL WASTE
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* Waste Category
No.
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Waste Category Type * |
Treatment and Disposal Option+* |
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Category No. 1 |
Human Anatomical Waste
( human tissues, organs, body parts)
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Incineration @/deep burialª |
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Category No. 2 |
Animal Waste
( animal tissues, organs, body parts, carcasses, bleeding
parts, fluid, blood and experimental animals used in
research, waste generated by veterinary hospitals, colleges,
discharge from hospitals, animal houses)
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Incineration @/deep burialª |
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Category No. 3 |
Microbiology & Biotechnology Waste
(wastes from laboratory cultures, stocks or specimens of
micro-organisms live or attenuated vaccines, human and
animal cell culture used in research and industrial
laboratories, wastes from production of biologicals, toxins,
dishes and devices used for transfer of cultures)
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Local autoclaving / microwaving incineration @ |
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Category No. 4 |
Waste Sharps
(needles, syringes, scalpels, blades, glass, etc. that
may cause puncture and unused sharps)
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Disinfection (chemical treatment @@/autoclaving/
microwaving and mutilation/ shredding”## |
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Category No. 5 |
Discarded Medicines & Cytotoxic drugs
(wastes comprising of outdated, contaminated and
discarded medicines)
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Incineration@ /destruction and drugs disposal in secured
landfills |
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Category No. 6 |
Soiled Waste
(items contaminated with blood and body fluids including
cotton, dressings, soiled plaster casts, lines, beddings,
other material contaminated with blood.
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Incineration @ autoclaving/ microwaving |
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Category No. 7 |
Solid Waste
(wastes generated from disposable items other than waste
sharps such as tabings, catheters, intravenous sets etc.)
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Disinfection by chemical treatment @@ autoclaving/
microwaving and mutilation/ shredding”## |
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Category No.8 |
Liquid Waste
(waste generated from laboratory and washing, cleaning,
house- keeping and disinfecting activities)
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Disinfection by chemical treatment @@and discharge into
drains |
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Category No.9 |
Incineration Ash
(ash from incineration of any bio-medical waste)
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Disposal in muncipal landfill |
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Category No.10 |
Chemical Waste
(chemicals used in production of biologicals, chemicals
used in disinfection, as insecticides, etc.)
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chemical treatment @@and discharge into drains for
liquids and secured landfill for solids. |
+ Options given above are based on available technologies. Occupier / Operator wishing to use other State-of-the art technologies shall approach the Central Pollution Control Board to get the standards laid down to enable the Prescribed Authority to consider grant of authorization.
@@ Chemical treatment using atleast 1%hypochlorite solution or any other equivalent chemical reagent.
## Mutilation / Shredding must be so as to prevent unauthorized reuse.
@ There will be no chemical pretreatment before incineration.
Chlorinated plastic shall not be incinerated.
ª Deep burial shall be an option available only in towns with population
less than five lakhs and in rural areas.
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