Biomedical Waste Management – A Review

Abstract

Bio-medical waste is generated mainly by health care establishments. The management of Bio-medical waste is still infant all across the world. It consists of Bio-medical waste as well as chemical waste with a portion of solid waste. This is a review paper which is prepared from the surveys of various research papers on improper biomedical waste. This research article is to survey the practice of biomedical waste such as collection, storage, transportation and disposal along with the amount of generated biomedical waste in various hospitals. Biomedical waste management is one of the biggest challenges of the present day times. It has a direct impact on the health of the citizen of that city. It is hazardous in nature. It’s safe and proper disposal is extremely important. As in many developing countries the generation of biomedical waste has increased significantly over the last few decades, management of this kind of waste continues to be a major challenge. Biomedical waste is generated in hospitals, research institutions, health care teaching institutes, clinics, laboratories, blood banks, animal houses and veterinary institutes. For proper management of bio-medical waste the Ministry of Environment and Forests has promulgated the Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998. Purpose of study was to highlight certain aspects of hospital waste management status. This paper will sensitize the reader about the impacts of improper waste management. Proper handling, treatment and disposal of the biomedical waste material are most important issue for the health of the human beings. The inadequate knowledge about the proper handling of biomedical waste can be dangerous to the health of common man as well as of health care personnel. This review discusses about various types of waste, its hazards and management.