The Central government has via the Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998 notified the rules for the management and handling of biomedical waste in exercise of the powers conferred by Sections 6, 8 and 25 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 on 20th July, 1998. These rules apply to all people who generate, collect, receive, store, transport, treat, dispose or handle bio medical waste in any form.
In these rules unless the context otherwise requires. “Bio-medical waste" means waste generated during the diagnosis, treatment or immunisation of human beings or animals or in research activities pertaining there to or in the production or testing of biologicals and including categories mentioned in Schedule I.
“Bio-medical waste treatment facility" means any facility wherein treatment of disposal of bio-medical waste or processes incidental to such treatment or disposal is carried out; "Occupier" is any institution generating bio-medical waste, which includes a hospital, nursing home, clinic dispensary, veterinary institution, animal house, pathological laboratory and blood bank. A person who has control over that institution and/or its premises.
"Operator of a bio-medical waste facility" means a person who owns or controls or operates a facility for the collection, reception, storage, transport, treatment, disposal or any other form of handling of bio-medical waste; "Schedule" means schedule appended to these rules.
| Option Disposal | Waste Category | Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Category No. I | Human Anatomical Waste (human tissues, organs, body parts). | Incineration /deep burial. |
| Category No. 2 | Animal Waste (animal tissues, body parts, carcasses, bleeding parts, fluid, blood and experimental animals used in research, waste generated by veterinary hospitals colleges, discharge from hospitals, animal houses). | Incineration /deep burial. |
| Category No. 3 | Microbiology and 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 infectious agents from research and industrial laboratories, wastes from production of biologicals,toxins, dishes and devices used for transfer of cultures). | Autoclaving, micro-waving, incineration. |
| Category No. 4 | Waste sharps (needles, syringes, scalpels, blades, glass, etc. that may cause puncture and cuts. This includes both used and unused sharps). | Chemical disinfection, autoclaving, microwaving, mutilation/ shredding. |
| Category No. 5 | Discarded Medicines and Cytotoxic drugs (wastes comprising of outdated, contaminated and discarded medicines and drugs). | Incineration/ destruction and disposal in secured landfills. |
| Category No. 6 | Solid Waste (items contaminated with blood and body fluids including cotton, dressings, soiled plaster casts, lines, beddings other material contaminated with blood). | Incineration/autoclaving/ Micro-waving. |
| Category No. 7 | Solid Waste (wastes generated from disposable items other than the waste sharps such as tubings, catheters, intravenous sets etc.). | Disinfection by chemical treatment/ autoclaving/ microwaving and mutilation/ shredding. |
| Category No. 8 | Liquid Waste (waste generated from laboratory and washing, cleaning, house- keeping and disinfecting activities.) | Disinfection by chemical treatment and discharge into drains. |
| Category No. 9 | Incineration Ash (ash from incineration of any bio-medical waste). | Disposal in municipal landfills. |
| Category No. 10 | Chemical Waste (chemicals used in production of Biologicals, chemicals used in disinfection and as insecticides.) | Chemical treatment and discharge into drains for liquids and secure landfills for solids. |
| Colour Coding | Type of Container -I Waste Category | Treatment options as per Schedule I |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Plastic bag Cat. 1, Cat. 2, Cat. 3 and Cat. 6. | Incineration/deep burial |
| Red | Disinfected container/plastic bag Cat. 3, Cat. 6, Cat.7. | Autoclaving/Microwaving/ Chemical Treatment |
| Blue/White translucent | Plastic bag/puncture proof Cat. 4, Cat. 7. | Autoclaving/Microwaving/ Chemical Treatment and destruction/shredding |
| Black | Plastic bag Cat. 5, Cat. 9 and Cat. 10 (solid). | Disposal in secured landfill |
Label for Bio-Medical waste containers/bags.
Handle with care.
Label shall be non-washable and prominently visible.
