Abstract :
Hazardous bio-medical waste (BMW) management is a concern for every health organization. Inadequate management of BMW may have serious health consequences and a significant impact on the environment as well. Therefore, disposal of BMW in a scientific manner is of paramount importance. The
aim of the present study was to analyze (i) variation in quantity of solid BMW per bed per day, (ii) variation of physico-chemical parameters of BMW leachate. The various parameters studied in the present study were pH, SS, BOD, COD and O&G. This study was carried out from January 2016 to December 2016 at
monthly interval in a 150 bedded Private Hospital of Patiala city in the state of Punjab in India. The waste generation rate was found to be 0.41 kg per bed per day. The BMW was treated in four categories – yellow, blue, white and red, as per Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016. The absence of proper waste
management, lack of awareness about BMW and poor control of waste disposal are the most critical problems connected with healthcare waste. The results of the study demonstrate that the proper handling of BMW is very imperative.
Keyword :
Bio-medical waste, Hazardous waste, Health, Hospital, Patiala city, Segregation.