240
J. R. S. Selvan Christyraj et al.
BMWM rules with wider coverage among all areas of protection. The New BMWM
rules formulated in 2016 consist of Four Schedules, five forms and eighteen rules to
bring about the clarity of handling biomedical wastes. Other wastes which are not
categorized under biomedical wastes are collected and segregated based on specific
rules for municipal wastes, solid wastes, lead acid batteries, e-waste and radioactive
substances. Further, amendments of BMWM rules, 2016 was given (G.S.R. 234(E)
dated 16 March 2018) in order to have improved waste management system.
Salient features of BMWM (Amendment) Rules, 2018 are as follows:
All Biomedical waste source units will have to totally eradicate the usage of chlorinated plastic bags (excluding blood bags) and gloves by 27 March 2019. As per
amended BMWM rules 2018, blood bags are exempted from phase-out, and all
healthcare facilities should post their regular annual report on their portal within two
years of period.
The most recent revised guidelines were given by the Central Pollution Control
Board (CPCB) on 10 June 2020 stresses the safety of sanitation workers who handle
the biomedical waste in isolation wards. These guidelines state that all the basic necessities used by COVID-19 patients were classified as biomedical waste and should be
put in yellow-coloured bags, while the used gloves must be collected in red bags. It
also describes the role of Nodal officers, Operators and Maintenance Staff in sample
collection centres, isolation wards of COVID-19, confinement centres, diagnostic
and research laboratories, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and common biomedical
waste treatment and disposal facilities (CBWTFs).
10.2.2 Prominent Hallmarks of Biomedical Waste Rule 2016
in India
(a) Scope to conduct various camps like vaccination, blood donation, surgical or
training pertinent to healthcare hygiene;
(b) Ruled-out the use of gloves, chlorinated plastic bags, and blood bags within
two years;
(c) Pre-treatment of biomedical wastes such as wastes from laboratory, microbiological units, blood samples and blood bags through appropriate decontamination or sterilization as prescribed by World Health Organization (WHO) or
National AIDS Control Organization (NACO);
(d) Provide training to all its healthcare workers and protect them from diseases
such as hepatitis B and tetanus by immunization regularly;
(e) Launching a Bar-Code System for bags or containers containing BMW for
disposal;
(f) Existing incinerators have to achieve the standards for permissible emission of
Dioxin and Furans and retention time in secondary chamber within two years;
J. R. S. Selvan Christyraj et al.
BMWM rules with wider coverage among all areas of protection. The New BMWM
rules formulated in 2016 consist of Four Schedules, five forms and eighteen rules to
bring about the clarity of handling biomedical wastes. Other wastes which are not
categorized under biomedical wastes are collected and segregated based on specific
rules for municipal wastes, solid wastes, lead acid batteries, e-waste and radioactive
substances. Further, amendments of BMWM rules, 2016 was given (G.S.R. 234(E)
dated 16 March 2018) in order to have improved waste management system.
Salient features of BMWM (Amendment) Rules, 2018 are as follows:
All Biomedical waste source units will have to totally eradicate the usage of chlorinated plastic bags (excluding blood bags) and gloves by 27 March 2019. As per
amended BMWM rules 2018, blood bags are exempted from phase-out, and all
healthcare facilities should post their regular annual report on their portal within two
years of period.
The most recent revised guidelines were given by the Central Pollution Control
Board (CPCB) on 10 June 2020 stresses the safety of sanitation workers who handle
the biomedical waste in isolation wards. These guidelines state that all the basic necessities used by COVID-19 patients were classified as biomedical waste and should be
put in yellow-coloured bags, while the used gloves must be collected in red bags. It
also describes the role of Nodal officers, Operators and Maintenance Staff in sample
collection centres, isolation wards of COVID-19, confinement centres, diagnostic
and research laboratories, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and common biomedical
waste treatment and disposal facilities (CBWTFs).
10.2.2 Prominent Hallmarks of Biomedical Waste Rule 2016
in India
(a) Scope to conduct various camps like vaccination, blood donation, surgical or
training pertinent to healthcare hygiene;
(b) Ruled-out the use of gloves, chlorinated plastic bags, and blood bags within
two years;
(c) Pre-treatment of biomedical wastes such as wastes from laboratory, microbiological units, blood samples and blood bags through appropriate decontamination or sterilization as prescribed by World Health Organization (WHO) or
National AIDS Control Organization (NACO);
(d) Provide training to all its healthcare workers and protect them from diseases
such as hepatitis B and tetanus by immunization regularly;
(e) Launching a Bar-Code System for bags or containers containing BMW for
disposal;
(f) Existing incinerators have to achieve the standards for permissible emission of
Dioxin and Furans and retention time in secondary chamber within two years;