Biomedical waste refers to all liquid and solid wastes generated from medical establishments and activities involving biological materials
. It includes waste from healthcare, clinical research, research involving animals, animal farms, dead animals, and other related activities
. Biomedical waste can be categorized into the following categories
:
- Pathological and infectious waste : Waste from diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals, or in research activities pertaining thereto.
- General healthcare waste : Waste from routine medical activities, such as used bandages, gauze, and syringes.
- Chemical/pharmaceutical waste : Waste from the production or testing of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and biologicals.
- Sharps waste : Waste from used or discarded sharps, such as needles, scalpels, and broken glass.
- Other waste : Waste like radioactive waste or broken thermometers.
Biomedical waste management involves proper handling, treatment, and disposal of this category of waste to prevent infection and environmental harm
. The generation of biomedical waste is not restricted to specific activities or organizations; it can originate from homes during dialysis, insulin injections, animal health activities in rural areas, butchering of sick animals in butcher houses, medical shops, use of sanitary napkins and earbuds, and use of diapers
. Some key aspects of biomedical waste management include:
- Planning : Estimates suggest that about 15% of biomedical waste is pathological and infectious, 80% is general healthcare waste, 3% is chemical/pharmaceutical waste, 1% is sharps waste, and less than 1% is other waste
- Categorization : Biomedical waste can be categorized into different types, such as ash of incinerated biomedical waste, which is considered non-infectious
- Regulations : Many countries have separate regulations and mechanisms to manage biomedical waste, with varying definitions of what constitutes biomedical waste
- Disposal : Biomedical waste can be disposed of through various methods, such as incineration, landfilling, or recycling, depending on the type of waste and local regulations
It is essential for healthcare facilities, medical professionals, and waste management organizations to follow proper guidelines and regulations for handling, treatment, and disposal of biomedical waste to ensure public health and environmental safety
