Waste Management Unit

Bio-Medical Waste

Any waste, which is generated during the diagnosis, treatment or immunization of

human beings or animals or in research activities or in the production of testing of
biological. (Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998 )

As per WHO norms the health-care waste includes all the waste generated by
healthcare establishments, research facilities, and laboratories. In addition, it

includes the waste originating from minor or scattered sources such as that
produced in the course of health care undertaken in the home (dialysis, insulin
injections, etc.)

Burial of waste
Burial should be at least 50 meters from the nearest water source.
Burial pit should be 1-2 meters wide and 2-5 meters deep.
The bottom of the pit should be at east 1.8 meters above the water table.
Erect a fence or a wall around the site to keep out animals.
Every time solid medical waste is added to the pit, cover it with 10-30 cm of dirt.
When the level of waste reaches to within 30- cm of ground level, fill the pit with dirt,
seal it with concrete, and dig a new pit.
Incineration of solid medical waste Incinerating is
the best option for solid waste disposal, since the
high
temperature
(1300
C)
destroys
microorganisms and reduces the amount of
waste.

Categories of Bio-Medical Waste as per Bio- Medical Waste

(Management and Handling) Rules 1998
WASTE CATEGORY

TYPE OF WASTE

TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL

OPTION

Category No. 1

Human Anatomical Waste (Human tissues,

organs, body parts)

Incineration / deep burial

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 and colleges, discharge
from hospitals, animal houses)

Incineration / deep burial

Category No. 3

Microbiology & Biotechnology Waste (Wastes

from laboratory cultures, stocks or specimen of
live micro organisms or attenuated vaccines,
human and animal cell cultures used in
Local autoclaving/
research and infectious agents from research
microwaving / incineration
and industrial laboratories, wastes from
production of biologicals, toxins and devices
used for transfer of cultures)

Category No. 4

Waste Sharps (Needles, syringes, scalpels,

blades, glass, etc. that may cause puncture
and cuts. This includes both used and unused
sharps)

Disinfecting (chemical
treatment@@ / autoclaving /
microwaving and mutilation /
shredding

Category No. 5

Discarded Medicine and Cytotoxic drugs

(Wastes comprising of outdated,
contaminated and discarded medicines)

Incineration@ / destruction and

drugs disposal in secured
landfills

Category No. 6

Soiled Waste (Items contaminated with body

fluids including cotton, dressings, soiled
plaster casts, lines, bedding and other
materials contaminated with blood.)

Incineration@ / autoclaving /
microwaving

Category No. 7

Solid Waste (Waste generated from

disposable items other than the waste sharps
such as tubing, catheters, intravenous sets,
etc.)

Disinfecting by chemical
treatment@@ / autoclaving /
microwaving and mutilation /
shredding

Category No. 8

Liquid Waste (Waste generated from the

laboratory and washing, cleaning, house
keeping and disinfecting activities)

Disinfecting by chemical
treatment@@ and discharge
into drains

Category No. 9

Incineration Ash (Ash from incineration of any

Disposal in municipal landfill
biomedical waste)

Category No.10

Chemical Waste (Chemicals used in

production of biologicals, chemicals used in
disinfecting, as insecticides, etc.)

Chemical treatment @@ and

discharge into drains for
liquids and secured landfill
for solids.

Colour Coding and Type of Container for disposal

Symbols used for bio-medical waste containers/bags

BIOHAZARD

CYTOTOXIC

 To plan and design bio-medical waste management unit one

should know how much and what type of waste is generated
and from which unit.
Is waste minimization possible if so in which unit and for what
type of waste.
What all items and equipment's and their quantities are
required for managing the waste.
What type of disposal methodology is to be adopted to suit to
their facility.
Ascertain whether common bio-medical waste facility is
available in the area or not.
Defining route of movement of waste

Unit Wise Generation of Bio- Medical Waste

Unit

Waste Generation

Out Patient

Soiled Waste,(gauze, bandages etc.), Solid

waste (Plastic) and
Sharps

Injection Room

Soiled Waste, Sharps and Solid waste

General Ward

Sharps waste, Solid waste and Soiled waste

Labour Room

Body part (placenta etc.) ,Sharps waste, Solid

waste and Soiled waste

Operation Theatre

Body parts, Sharps waste, Solid waste and

Soiled waste

Intensive Care Unit

Sharps waste, Solid waste, Soiled waste

Casualty/ Emergency

Sharps waste, Solid waste and Soiled waste

Laboratory

Sharps waste, Solid waste, Soiled waste,

Biological (culture / media)

Pharmacy

Discarded medicines

Amount and composition of hospital waste generated

Country
U. K.
U.S.A.
France
Spain
India

Hazardous

Quantity (kg/bed/day)
2.5
4.5
2.5
3.0
1.5

15%

a) Hazardous but non-infective

5%

b) Hazardous and infective

10%

Non-hazardous

85%

Waste Management Unit is a designated area of a

healthcare facility which is staffed by a multidisciplinary
team whose roles include
collection,
transport,
processing,
disposal,
managing and
monitoring
of waste materials generated from the facility.

The Waste Management Unit should have the following

features:
Easily accessible from all functional areas
Accessible from within the unit and externally
Fitted with security fittings such as door locks, keypad/card access,
CCTV and motion sensor depending on operational policy
Located away from food and clean storage areas
Not accessible to the public.
The Waste Management Unit should be located on ground level away
from publicly accessible areas.
The location should be adjacent to the Dirty Loading Dock for easy
access by waste collection trucks.

Functional Areas
The Waste Management Unit will include the following Functional Areas:
Enclosed workstation with a workbench, telephone and computer outlet
to undertake recording and reporting functions; it should have visual
control of the waste handling facility
General wet waste holding area
Loading Dock and area with provision
Clinical waste holding rooms
Paper and recyclable materials collection
Clean bin storage area; a variety of bins need to be stored pending
distribution to the hospital units
The following Functional Areas are optional requirements:
A waste weighing and recording station, which includes a floor level
digital weighbridge and bar code recorder. This area will be required if
waste handling policy includes weighing and tracking.
An upright freezer may be required to store tissue pending dispatch for
incineration.
A radioactive waste storage

Clinical Waste Storage

Clinical waste includes human or animal tissue, blood and body
fluids, pharmaceutical products, syringe, needles, dressings or any
other waste which can be hazardous or may cause infection to any
person who comes in contact with it.
The three groups of clinical waste include:
healthcare wastes which pose as a risk of infection (including
human tissue, sharps, items in contact with body fluids, etc.)
healthcare wastes which pose as a chemical hazard
pharmaceuticals and medicinally-contaminated wastes which
contain pharmaceutically-active agent (including expired drugs,
partially administered medications, vaccines and discarded items
used in the handling of pharmaceuticals)

The Clinical Waste Storage is reserved for healthcare clinical waste only.
The storage space should be:
well-lit and ventilated;
adjacent to Dirty Loading Dock;
located away from food preparation and general storage areas;
located away from routes used by the public;
totally enclosed and secure;
provided with separate storage areas for sharps receptacles,
anatomical and pharmaceutical waste;
sited on a well-drained, impervious surface;
readily accessible by authorised staff;
kept locked when not in use;
secure from entry by animals and free from insect or rodent
infestations;
provided with staff washing facilities;
clearly marked with warning signs;
appropriately drained to a sewer (if approved by local regulations)

Bins and Equipment Washing Bay

A specific area, with adequate drainage, for washing bins and equipment
should be located between the dirty and clean storage areas.
Refrigerated Storage
Waste in storage must not create offensive odor to pose as a nuisance to
staff and visitors of the facility. To prevent odor forming in hot weather,
clinical & non-clinical waste should be stored in refrigerated storage prior
to collection.
Radioactive Waste Storage
Radioactive waste should be handled in a safe manner to ensure that all
staff have minimal exposure to radiation.
A Radiation Safety Officer will be responsible for the safe handling,
storage and transport of radioactive waste.
Radioactive waste must be stored in leak proof containers in a specifically
identified area for the storage of radioactive waste separate from clinical
and general waste storage.
The handling, storage and disposal of radioactive materials must comply
with requirements of the Radiation Control Act and other relevant local
regulations.

General Waste Storage

Waste that are assessed and/or classified as inert or solid waste should be
stored in a room separate from clinical waste for collection by outside
contractors to be sorted, processed and recycled elsewhere
Liquid Waste Storage/ Discharge
Liquid waste that is unsuitable for discharge into a sewer or waterways
such as those from laboratory wastes must be contained to prevent
leakage and stored in abounded area.
Liquid waste may be legally discharged into a sewer or waterways only in
accordance with local sewerage authority requirements.

Functional Relationships

The waste handling area will be frequently serviced by site and

contractor's vehicles removing waste in carts and front loading bulk bins.
It is important that adequate traffic access is provided for delivery and
removal of all wastes.
The access roads need to be adequate and turning areas uncongested.
A service lift devoted to materials movement within the hospital is highly
recommended.
Waste holding/Disposal room should be provided in all FPUs
A Dirty Corridor should be provided for transport of waste which should
not be used for transport of clean materials such as food items and
general supplies for the facilities.
The Waste Management administration area should be located where
visual control of the loading dock can be achieved.
Storage bays for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as heavy duty
gloves, safety shoes, protective face visors or goggles should be
conveniently located to improve staff compliance thereby avoiding
preventable risks.

Building Service Requirements

Building service requirements for the Waste Management Unit will include the
following:
The temperature with the waste handling area should be maintained at a
temperature that helps control odours; ideally a negative pressure environment
should be provided to contain the spread of odours.
Temperature monitor and alarm should be connected to Biomedical Services to
alert staff of any malfunction.
Hot and cold water outlets with a hose spray are the minimum requirements to be
provided for cleaning waste holding areas and bins as required
Drainage from this area may include disinfectants; therefore liquid wastes may
require special treatment prior to discharge.
Walls and floors should be sealed to withstand the frequent wash downs and the
floors graded to allow run off.
Lighting should be adequate to allow staff to see clearly especially in waste storage
areas and corridors.

Functional Relationship Diagram

Room/Space

Qty

Area(m2 )

Qty

Area(m2 )

Room/Space

Qty

Area(m2 ) Qty

Area(m2 )

Policies
National Legislations Governing Waste Management:

The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 (for liquid waste)

The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981( for air quality)

The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

Hazardous Wastes (Management, Handling and Trans boundary (Movement) Rules, 2008 (for
hazardous waste).

The Bio- Medical Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules 1998 (for hospital waste)

The Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000 (for domestic municipal
waste)

Battery (Management and Handling) Rules, 2001 (for used batteries waste).

Excerpts from Bio- Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 1998 and as Amended.

The Ministry of Environment and Forest has drafted certain rules in exercise of powers
conferred by sections 6,8 and 25 of the environment (protection) act, 1986.