Overview on Bio Medical Waste Recycling Plant
Biomedical waste is considered medical waste, clinical waste, bio-hazardous waste, infectious medical waste, and health care waste, any waste that contains contagious material. The waste is generated by the healthcare facilities like testing labs, hospitals, and clinics. Biomedical waste can contain bodily fluids, such as blood and other pollutants. The Ministry of Environment & Forests notified the Bio-medical Waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 1998 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. These are the rules which apply to anyone who generates, collects, receives, stores, transports, treats, disposes of, or handles biomedical waste in any form, inclusively hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, dispensaries, veterinary institutions, animal houses, pathological laboratories, blood banks, clinical establishments, research or educational institutions, health camps, medical or surgical camps, vaccination camps, blood donation camps, first aid rooms of schools, forensic services.
What are the examples of Biomedical Waste?
Who are eligible to take bio-medical waste recycling plant authorization?
As per the Bio-medical waste management rules, 2016, every individual involved in collecting, production, transportation, recycling, and disposal must get the authorization. Also, an individual needs to take consent from the State pollution control board (SPCB) of the concerned state. An individual involved in activities above in respect of biomedical waste has to require to obtain permission.
What are the documents required for bio-medical waste recycling plant authorization?
Documents required for Non-bedded facilities for biomedical waste recycling plant authorization:
Documents Required for Bedded facilities for bio-medical waste recycling plant authorization:
- Company Pan card
- Board declaration for Authorized signatory
- State board compliance
What is the standard of treatment of bio-medical waste recyvling plant authorization?
Operating Standard:
The combustion efficiency is calculated as follows:
Autoclaving of Bio-Medical Waste Standards
An autoclave is dedicated to disinfecting and treatment of bio-medical waste. When using a gravity flow autoclave, medical waste must be exposed to the following tests:
The Temperature should not be dropped below 135 degrees C and Pressure of 15 pounds per square inch for a minimum autoclave dwell duration of 60 minutes; or A temperature of at least 135° C and a pressure of at least 31 psi for a 45-minute autoclave residence time; or An autoclave residence duration of not less than 30 minutes at a temperature of not less than 149° C and a pressure of 52 psi.
Validation test for autoclave:
The validation test shall use four biological indicator strips. One shall be used as a control and left at room temperature. Three shall be placed in the approximate center of three containers with the waste. Personal protective equipment (gloves, face mask, and coveralls) shall be used to place the biological indicators when opening containers. At least one of the containers with a biological indicator should be placed in the most challenging location for steam to penetrate, generally the bottom center of the waste pile. The occupier or operator shall conduct this test three consecutive times to define the minimum operating conditions. The temperature, pressure, and residence time at which all biological indicator vials or strips for three successive tests show complete inactivation of the spores shall define the minimum operating conditions for the autoclave. After determining the minimum temperature, pressure, and residence time, the occupier or operator of a common biomedical waste treatment facility shall conduct this test once in three months, and records in this regard shall be maintained.
Recording of operational parameters:
Each autoclave must have visual or computer recording systems that monitor and record dates, time and day, load identification number, and operating parameters automatically and continuously during the autoclave cycle.
Routine Test:
To verify when a specified temperature has been reached, use a chemical indicator strip or tape that changes colour when a specific temperature is attained. To ensure that the waste package's inner content has been appropriately autoclaved, it may be essential to employ more than one strip at different positions over the waste package. This test must be performed during autoclaving of each batch by the occupier or operator of a common biomedical waste treatment facility, and records must be kept.
Spore Testing:
At the full design capacity of each autoclave unit, the autoclave should totally and reliably kill the designated biological indicator. Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores in vials or spore Strips with at least 1X106 spores shall be used as a biological indicator. Under no circumstances will an autoclave's minimum operating parameters be less than 30 minutes of residence time, 121°C of Temperature, or 15 psi of pressure. The test should be performed once a week by the occupier or operator of a common biomedical waste treatment and disposal facility, and records must be kept.
