PCC Issues Advisory on Implementation Bio-medical Waste Management Rules

Details

Port Blair, Feb 25: In light of the outbreak of a new variant of COVID-19 with higher infection potential, the country is witnessing a surge in the number of patients, which is expected to get translated into increase in BWM generation from Health care facilities as well as Quarantine Centers/ domestic areas. To keep a track on COVID-19 BWM generation and to manage BWM waste, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has developed an App named ‘COVID19BWM’. It has also prepared following technical guidelines for environmentally sound management of BWM and enhancing capabilities of CBWTFs:

  • Guidelines for management of Healthcare Waste in Health Care Facilities as per Bio Medical Waste Management of Rules, 2016.
  • Guidelines for Bar code system for effective management of Bio-medical waste.
  • Revised Guidelines for Common-Biomedical Waste Treatment and Disposal Facilities.
  • Guidelines for Monitoring Performance of CBWTFs by SPCBs/PCCs.
  • Guidelines for Handling treatment and disposal of waste generated during treatment diagnostics and quarantine of COVID-19 patients.
  • Guidelines for ‘Imposition of Environmental Compensation against HCFs and CBWTFs’.
  • Guidelines for Verification of Two Seconds Residence Time in Secondary Combustion Chamber of the Bio-medical waste incinerator.
  • Guidelines for Handling of Bio-medical Waste for Utilization.
  • Environmentally Sound Management of Mercury Waste Generated from Health Care Facilities.

In view of the above, MoEF&CC has advised that in order to tackle the increase in BMW generation including COVID-19 waste, it would be appropriate to undertake and implement specific measures prescribed by CPCB in its guidelines and prevent the bio-hazard contamination in the environment. The above said guidelines are available in the link: https://cpcb.nic.in/technical-guidelines-2/