Bio-Medical Waste Rules

 Q The Central Government has issued the Bio-Medical Waste Rules in the year:

(a) 2000 (b) 1998 è

(c) 2003 (d) 2007

BioMedical Waste Rules= BIOMEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT RULES The Ministry of Environment and Forest established the Biomedical Waste Management & Handling Rules in 1998 under the Environment Protection Act

Biomedical waste or hospital waste is any kind of waste containing infectious (or potentially infectious) materials.[1] It may also include waste associated with the generation of biomedical waste that visually appears to be of medical or laboratory origin (e.g. packaging, unused bandages, infusion kits etc.), as well research laboratory waste containing biomolecules or organisms that are mainly restricted from environmental release. As detailed below, discarded sharps are considered biomedical waste whether they are contaminated or not, due to the possibility of being contaminated with blood and their propensity to cause injury when not properly contained and disposed. Biomedical waste is a type of biowaste.

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Authorization under the Bio-Medical waste Rules means –

a. means permission granted by the prescribed authority for the generation, collection, reception, storage, transportation, treatment, disposal and/or any other form of handling of bio-medical waste in accordance with these rules and any guidelines issued by the Central Government. è

b. means any preparation made from organisms or micro-organisms or product of metabolism and biochemical reactions intended for use in the diagnosis, immunisation or the treatment of human beings or animals or in research activities pertaining thereto

c. which includes a hospital, nursing home, clinic dispensary, veterinary institution, animal house, pathological laboratory, blood bank by whatever name called, means a person who has control over that institution and/or its premises

d. person who owns or controls or operates a facility for the collection, reception, storage, transport, treatment, disposal or any other form of handling of bio-medical waste

 

Explanation:

Bio-medical Waste Authorisation is an authorisation issued under the provisions of Bio-medical Wastes Management Rules, 2016 for the generation or collection or reception or storage or transportation or treatment or disposal or any other manner of handling of biomedical wastes listed in Schedule 1 of the Bio-medical Wastes Management Rules, 2016.

According to the Bio-medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, Every person who is involved in the generation, collection, storage, transportation, reception, recycling, disposal is required to have authorization.

The State Pollution Control Board are declared as prescribed Authority for grant of Authorization.

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A news came in one of the newspapers stating that one ‘Mangal Nursing Home’ is discarding its Biomedical wastes in the nearby public dustbin on the road maintained by Corporation thereby causing health hazards to the surrounding residents. In this case –

a. The Pollution Control Board cannot take suo moto action against the Nursing home

b. The Pollution Control Board can take suo moto action against the Nursing home. è

c. The Nursing home has not committed any offence and hence no action can be taken against them

d. The Nursing Home has committed an offence, but the Pollution Control Board does not have the authority to take action against them.

Explanation:

It is the duty of the officials of the PCB to ensure implementation of the Bio-Medical Waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 1998 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and amendments thereof.

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