Biomedical Waste Management

Key points

• • Biomedical waste is any waste produced during the diagnosis, treatment or immunisation of people or animals, and it can spread infection or injury if mishandled.
• • It is separated at the point where it is produced (segregation) into colour-coded bins, which is the single most important step in its safe management.
• • Colour codes differ between countries; under India's Biomedical Waste Management Rules, yellow is for infectious and anatomical waste (for incineration), red for contaminated recyclable plastics, and white (translucent, puncture-proof) for sharps such as needles.
• • Blue bins are for broken glass and metal implants, and general (non-hazardous) waste goes in ordinary black bins.
• • Sharps are placed in rigid, puncture-proof containers to prevent needlestick injuries, which can transmit blood-borne infections.
• • Infectious waste is finally destroyed by methods such as incineration or autoclaving, so that it cannot harm people or pollute the environment.