Biomedical Waste Management
Activity 1: Match the items in Column A with their definitions in Column B.
Column A Column B
1.)Throughput a.) Device used to sterilize laboratory and clinical medical equipment.
2.) Comminution b.) Biodegradation and stabilization of organic material under controlled
conditions.
3.) Mutagenic c.) Toxic to the cell
4.) Autoclave d.) The amount of waste a system or process moves from creation to
disposal in a period of time.
5.) Microbiological waste e.) Waste that poses a credible risk to people and/or the environment.
6.) Chemical treatment f.) Mechanical shredding and pulverizing of waste.
7.) Cytotoxic g.) Cultures from biology labs, as well as culture dishes and devices used to
transfer, inoculate or mix cultures.
8.) Hazardous waste h.) Causing mutations at the genetic level
9.) Incineration i.) Application of chemicals (possibly with high temperatures or pressures)
with the intent of changing the waste to make it less hazardous or more
stable
10.) Composting j.) Burning to completion with excess oxygen
Answers:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Since beginning, the hospitals are known for the treatment of sick persons but we are unaware
about the adverse effects of the garbage and filth generated by them on human body and environment.
Now it is a well-established fact that hospital waste is a potential health hazard to the health care
workers, public and flora and fauna of the area. It is the duty of every “occupier” i.e. a person who has
the control over the institution or its premises, to take all steps to ensure that waste generated is
handled without any adverse effect to human health and environment.
Biomedical waste (BMW) can be defined as any waste which is generated during the diagnosis,
treatment or immunization of human beings or animals or in research activities. It consists of non-
hazardous (between 75-90%) and hazardous waste (between 10-25%). Hazardous waste includes non-
shaprs, sharps, plastic disposables, liquid waste, radioactive waste, discarded glass, pressurized
containers, chemical waste, cytotoxic waste, incineration ash …
BMW can come from different sources including hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, medical
laboratories, blood banks, mortuaries, medical research and training centers, biotechnology
institution/production units, and animal houses. Such waste can also be generated at home if health
care is being provided there to a patient (injection, dressing materials …).
Categories of biomedical waste
Options Waste category Treatment and disposal
Category 1 Human anatomical waste (human tissues, organs, body Incineration/deep burial
parts)
Category 2 Animal waste (animal tissues, organs, body parts, carcasses, Incineration/deep burial
bleeding parts, fluid, blood and experimental animals used in
research, waste generated by veterinary hospital colleges,
discharge from hospital, animal houses)
Category 3 Microbiology & biotechnology waste (waste from laboratory Local autoclaving/
cultures, stocks or specimens of micro-organisms live or microwaving/incineration
attenuated vaccines, human or animal cell cultures used in
research, infectious agents used in research and industrial
laboratories, waste from production of biological, toxins,
dishes and devices used for transfer of cultures)
Category 4 Waste sharps (needles, syringes, scalpels, blades, glass, Disinfection by chemical
ampoules, slides, vials etc. that may cause puncture or cuts. treatment/autoclaving/
This includes both used and unused sharps.) microwaving/shredding
Category 5 Discarded medicines and cytotoxic drugs (waste comprising Incineration/destruction
of outdated, contaminated and discarded drugs) and drugs disposal in
secured landfills
Category 6 Soiled waste (items contaminated with blood and any bodily incineration/autoclaving/
fluids including cotton, dressings, soiled plaster casts, lines, microwaving
beddings, mask, cap, waste mops, other material
contaminated with blood)
Category 7 Solid waste (waste generated from disposable items other Disinfection by chemical
than the waste sharps such as tubings, catheters, treatment/autoclaving/
intravenous sets, blood bags, urine bags, etc. microwaving/shredding
Category 8 Liquid waste (waste generated from laboratory and washing, Disinfection by chemical
cleaning, housekeeping and disinfecting activities) treatment and discharge
into drains
Category 9 Incineration ash (ash from incineration of any biomedical Disposal in municipal
waste) landfill
Category 10 Chemical waste (chemicals used in production of biologicals, Chemical discharge into
chemicals used in disinfection as insecticides, etc.) drains for liquids and
secured landfills for
solids
Steps for biomedical waste management
Biomedical waste management consists of the following steps: segregation, collection and storage,
transportation, treatment and disposal. Segregation of waste is defined as the separation of different
types of waste by sorting at the site of collection. Collection of hospital waste is the process which is
done after segregation, and in a way, both can be considered as being complimentary to each other.
Several guidelines are given by WHO, and other statutory rules in our country. Storage is the duration of
time the waste is kept in the area of generation and transit, till the point of disposal. Transportation is
the way of transferring the waste to the processing and disposal centers. Vehicles for external transport
include van, lorry properly labeled and obeying all statutory rules of BMW Management. Processes of
treatment and disposal depend on the type of waste and method adopted.
Color coding for waste containers
Color coding Waste categories
Yellow container Cat.1: human anatomical waste
Cat.2: animal waste
Cat.3: microbiological waste
Cat.6: solid waste
Red container Cat.3: microbiological waste
Cat.6: soiled waste
Blue/White Cat.4: waste sharps
container Cat.7: solid waste
Black container Cat.5: discarded medicine
Cat.9: incineration ash
Cat.10: chemical waste
Activity 2: Read the text and complete the graph.
Biomedical waste management
..... ..... ........ ..... ...... ....... ...... ....... .... . Treatment and disposal
. .
Activity 3: Read the text and complete the graph.
Types of biomedical waste
.... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... .... .... ..... .... .... .......
Cytotoxic waste .... .... ... ... .... ... ...
Activity 4: Complete the table with information from the text.
Category number Waste Color coding container Treatment/disposal
Broken ampoules
Drapes
catheters
Water from disinfection
Chemicals
Carcasses
Toxins
Scalpels
Contaminated drugs
Kidneys
Infection agents in
laboratories
Activity 5: List six (6) sources of biomedical waste.
1.) . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.) ...... ....... ...............
3.) ..............................
4.) ..............................
5.) ..............................
6.) ...... .... .......... ........
Activity 6: Say whether these statements are TRUE or FALSE.
1.) Hazardous waste is more numerous than non-hazardous waste. T/F
2.) Biomedical waste can also come from houses. T/F
3.) Collection is the last step in biomedical waste management. T/F
4.) Materials used after the dressings are usually incinerated. T/F
5.) The microbiological and soiled waste is put into the red container. T/F
Activity 7: What can be the adverse effects of biomedical waste on humans and/or the environment?
