Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998 have come into force for the management and handling of biomedical waste, and apply to all hospitals.
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1. The “Biomedical Waste (management and handling) Rules, 1998” have been notified by the Central Government for the management and handling of biomedical waste. These rules apply to all persons who generate, collect, receive, store, transport, treat, dispose or handle biomedical waste in any form.
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2. Under these rules “Biomedical waste” means any waste, which is generated during diagnosis, treatment or immunisation of human beings or animals or in research activities pertaining thereto or in the production or testing of biologicals, and including categories mentioned in Schedule-I, and “Biomedical waste treatment facility” means any facility wherein treatment, disposal of biomedical waste or processes incidental to such treatment or disposal are carried out.
3. Treatment and disposal. Every hospital is obliged to set up requisite biomedical waste treatment facilities like incinerator, autoclave, microwave system for the treatment of waste, or ensure requisite treatment of waste at a common waste treatment facility or any other waste treatment facility.
4. Segregation, packaging, transportation and storage:
a. Biomedical waste shall not be mixed with other wastes.
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b. Biomedical waste shall be segregated into appropriately coloured plastic containers/bags at the point of generation in accordance with colour scheme given in Schedule II and labeled according to Schedule III.
c. If container is transported from the premises where biomedical waste is generated to any other waste treatment facility outside the premises, the container shall, apart from the label prescribed in Schedule III, also carry information as per Schedule IV.
d. No untreated biomedical waste shall be kept stored beyond a period of 48 hours.
5. Authorisation/registration: Every hospital generating, collecting, receiving, storing, transporting, treating, disposing and or handling biomedical waste has to make an application accompanied by prescribed fee to the State Pollution Control Board, or authority prescribed by them, for grant of authorisation.
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6. Annual report: Every occupier/operator has to submit an annual report to the prescribed authority by 31st January every year, to include information about the categories and quantities of biomedical waste handling during the preceding year.
7. Maintenance of records: Every hospital should maintain records related to the generation, collection, reception, storage, transportation, treatment, disposal and/or any form of handling of biomedical waste which records shall be subject to inspection and verification by the prescribed authority at any time.
8. Accident reporting: When any accident involving biomedical waste occurs at any institution or facility or any other site where biomedical waste is handled or during transportation of such waste, the authorised person shall report the accident to the prescribed authority forthwith.