Ensuring human safety and addressing environmental concern through better management of biomedical waste: A case study of Aurangabad city, m.s. India

Abstract

The waste, which is generated during the diagnosis, treatment or immunization of human beings or animals, in search activities pertaining humans or animals or in the production or testing of biologicals is called Biomedical Waste (BMW). The main and exact reason of bio-medical waste as a problem was in its poor management. In India, only a few states and districts have given adequate thoughts to manage the collection and disposal of BMW properly.

Keeping in view the inappropriate bio medical waste management, the Ministry of Environment andForests notified the ‘Biomedical Waste Management and Handling Rules 1998’ in July 1998 (Later amended on 2nd June, 2000). The soul principle of this rule was to carry out segregation, collection, transportation and disposal of the mentioned above by maintaining hygienic conditions throughout the arena.

The study had been carried out between the periods of June 2007 to May 2008. Accordingly, the population of Aurangabad city was 10.99 Lakhs as per 2001 census. This city had been recorded as the fastest growing industrial township in the Asian subcontinent. BMW treatment plant of AMC had been implemented since 1st Nov.2003 in Gevrai Tanda, Patoda shiwar area near Aurangabad and this contract has been made with Water-grace products, Biomedical Waste Management, Nasik on BOLT (Build Operate Lease Transfer) on the basis for 20 years. Amongst the Autoclave, Hydroclave, Microwave, Incinerator and Chemical technology; the concern agency adopted Incinerator technology.

All government, semi-government, private, NGO’s or the people who generated BMW were the members of this mentioned project. There were 662 members upto the date of 1st March, 2008. The data had been collected through means of official documentation by AMC, questionnaires filled by doctors, personal interviews, field-visits to the treatment plants, and the parallel pilot projects. The findings were as follows:

1) The response given by the doctors was considerably appreciable but there was no watch on illegalpractitioners. So, AMC should have driven a special action against it.

2) There was a need to provide a technical training to the workers engaged in this system as they wereexposed to deadly infectious diseases generating through it.

3) The heat released through Incineration process should have been trapped and utilized further.

4) The remaining of BMW could have been used as manure. In pilot experiment, this manure enhancesthe growth of plants.

5) The Audit of BMW was required to understand the quality and quantity of the waste generated.

6) There was a need to improve the machine-technology in an Incinerator process on it so as torelease the visible smoke.

7) Disposal facility was only one of the links in the Bio Medical Waste management chain. Therewere other key-links that were required :

· Education and Awareness.

· Compliance monitoring and accountability.

· Regulatory system and tools.

In the developing countries, due to lack of costly, sophisticated machinery, the concerned authoritiesshould focus on 3 R’s (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) and through scientific eco-friendly techniques, methods should be implemented so as to sustain a healthy environment ensuring betterment in health of every citizen.