International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume3 Issue 6 Number1–Nov 2012
BIO-MEDICALWASTE MANAGEMENT IN ERODE
GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL
S.KARAPAGAVALLI, S.SUGANYA
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
BHARATH UINVERSITY
ABSTRACT
These project mainly deals with the Bio-medical waste management. The
waste products in hospitals are not treated properly.In view of keeping environmental
care,the ministry of environment and forest, Government of India, has notified the
rules for management and handling of Bio-medical waste in July 1998 to achieve the
environmental care. The notification of the rules is a very significant event in the
process in making the hospital, environment- friendly and in reducing pollution
arising out of health care practices.
In this project, the Government Hospital, Erode of 583 bedded capacity has
been taken as a case study. The quantity of Waste arising from the hospital is 319.5
Kg/day. As no proper Segregation at source is practiced in this hospital, it has paved
the way for increased medical waste stream due to mixing of general and medical
waste.
The study presents the existing waste management in this hospital and
attempts to identify an appropriate strategy for safe management of this waste as per
Bio-medical waste (Management and Handling) Rules-1998.
ISSN: 2231-5381
http://www.ijettjournal.org
Page 16
International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume3 Issue 6 Number1–Nov 2012
1. INTRODUCTION
The rapid urbanization and urban development has lead to overcrowding of
town and cities. The stress and strain of modern life has caused set backs/ effects of
both general and serious nature. To restore the community health there has been a
spurt in growth of hospitals in both private and government sector.
They have been made much remarkable advancement in the field of medical
practice. Sophisticated instruments are being used for diagnosis and treatment. This
advancement results in increase in per capita per patient generation of Bio-medical
waste. Though hospitals are meant to restore human health, the disposal of hospital
waste is a matter of concern.
Bio-medical waste has recently emerged as an issue of major concern not only
in hospitals, nursing home but also to environmental law enforcement agencies,media
and the general public. All types of health care facilities, laboratory, clinics, nursing
homes and medical, dental and veterinary hospitals generate a waste stream. Some of
these wastes are threat to human being and environment.
The greatest risk is from the infection and sharp components. In addition to its
infectivity its high toxicity and radioactivity has increased public concern about
treatment, transportation and ultimate disposal. Awareness about the procedure for
proper management and the legal requirements for Bio-medical waste disposal is
rather poor amongst the medical fraternity.
Keeping this in view the Union Ministry of Environment and forest notified
“Bio-medical waste (Management and Handling) rules, 1998”, under the provision of
environment protection act 1986. Under these rules every health care institute big or
small will have to made arrangement to ensure that such waste is handled and
managed without adverse health effect to human beings and the environment.
ISSN: 2231-5381
http://www.ijettjournal.org
Page 17
International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume3 Issue 6 Number1–Nov 2012
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
2.1.GENERAL
Bio-medical wastes that are highly hazardous should be handled with great
care. Management of these wastes may cause adversary effects to the handling
workers. So to avoid this problems they should have enough precautions before
handling this wastes. The Government hospital Erode which we have chosen for case
study is located in heart of city with large beds of capacity 583 Nos. .
2.2 MATERIALS AND METHODS
2.2.1 Method of sample collection
The various types of bio- medical waste generated in this Government hospital
were collected with the help of doctors and staff members in that hospital. First a
survey was done on the type of waste generated from each ward,type of disposal ,time
of disposal,quantity of disposal etc. Absolute quantity of waste produced daily were
collected, measured and weighed.
2.2.2 Analysis of Bio-medical and General waste
Each ward is provided with two containers, one for general and other for biomedical waste. The quantity generated were measured with help of sanitary assistants.
The details of waste arising from different wards are shown in the Table 3.1and Table
2.2.The composition of general waste are also shown in the table 2.3.
From the table 2.2, Total waste generated in this hospital is 319.5 Kg/day.It
includes 157.5 Kg of medical waste and 162 Kg general waste. The waste generated
in this government hospital is not subjected to any treatment
ISSN: 2231-5381
http://www.ijettjournal.org
Page 18
International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume3 Issue 6 Number1–Nov 2012
TABLE 2.1 QUANTITY OF GENERAL AND BIO MEDICAL WASTE ARISING FROM DIFFERENT WARDS AND UNITS
(Kg/ day)
SL.
NO
SOURCE
Kitchen
1.
2.
GENERAL
WASTE
Blood Bank
Operation Theatre
-
ISSN: 2231-5381
SHARPS
Vegetable
&food waste
-10 kg
-
3.
INFECTIOUS
WASTE
-
-
Disposable
Cotton1/4roll,
siringe,lancets, Blood
glass slides-1kg transformation
set,dispossable
Blood bag,bilot
bottle,coverslip,
Serum bottle
-5kg
Needles90nos,
blades50nos,
Ampules few
Nos.
-1kg
http://www.ijettjournal.org
Gauze
piece
,pads,
Catheters,cover
s,
Gloves
-5kg
Page 19
INFECTIOUS/
POTENTIALL
CHEMICAL
Y
WASTE
INFECTIOUS
PLASTICS
-
-
-
Chemical
I.V Bottles,
powder
and I.V.sets-30 nos
liquid
-5 kg
-1.5kg
International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume3 Issue 6 Number1–Nov 2012
4.
Laboratory
-
5.
Men Medical I
II
6.
Labour Septic ward
Normal
Complicated
7.
Men surgical I
II
III
8.
9.
Paper
waste,plastic
&disposable
cups,
Food
&sweeping
waste -20 kgs
Fruit
,food
&paper waste
,sweeping
&card
board
waste
-20 kgs
Fruit
,food
&paper waste
,sweeping
&card
board
waste
Plastic waste
-20 kgs
Fruit
,food
&paper waste
,sweeping
-15 kgs
Female Surgical I
II
III
Men post operative ward
ISSN: 2231-5381
Syringes
50 Bio-chemical
Nos.,
sample, blood
Glass slides
&urine sample
-1 kg
50 Nos.
-4kg
Injection-50,
Blood
ampules
100 bags,gauze
nos
piece, dressing
-1.5kgs
waste,
disposable
syringes
-2.5
kgs
Needles,bladde Cottons
s
dressing waste,
-1.5 kgs gauze
pieces,pads
-2 kgs
Disposable
Dressing waste
syringe
and ,cotton ,blood
Ampules
bags
,needles
-3 kgs
Blades,
ampules,
Needles
-2 kgs
Food
& ampules,
sweeping waste Needles
http://www.ijettjournal.org
Dressing waste
,cotton ,blood
bags,gauze
piece,dissposab
le syringes 3kgs
Cottons
dressing waste,
Page 20
-
Chemical
powder
-2 kgs
-
I.V.Bottles&
I.V
Sets,blood
transformation
sets
-6 kgs
Placenta,blood I.V.
Bottles
waste
I.V.Sets
-20 kgs
-6 kgs
-
-
-
I.V.Bottles&
I.V
Sets,blood
transformation
sets
-7 kgs
I.V.Bottles&
I.V
Sets,blood
transformation
sets
-8 kgs
I.V.
Bottles
I.V.Sets
International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume3 Issue 6 Number1–Nov 2012
-2kgs
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Female
ward
-1 kgs
operative Fruit
,food ampules,
&paper waste Needles
,sweeping
-1/2 kgs
&card
board
waste
-2 kgs
Men medical – I
ampules,
Fruit
,food Needles,blood
&paper waste transformation
,sweeping
sets
&card
board -1.5 kgs
waste
-15 kgs
Female medical – II
Fruit
,food Ampules,
&paper waste Needles
,sweeping
-1.5 kgs
&card
board
waste
-20 kgs
Children ward
Card
board Ampules,
waste,
food Needles
waste, plastic -few Nos.
waste
-6 kgs
Family planning ward
Ampules,
Needles
-few Nos.
ICU
Paper
Needles,
waste,plastic
Disposable
ISSN: 2231-5381
post
http://www.ijettjournal.org
gauze
pieces,pads,glo
ves
-2kgs
Pads
gloves,bottles,u
ro bags
-3.5 kgs
-2 kgs
-
-
Cotton
Chemical
,bandages cloth powder
-1/2 kgs
-1 kgs
I.V.
Bottles,
I.V.Sets
-5 kgs
Cotton ,blood Chemical
bags ,catheters powder
-2.5 kgs
-1 kgs
I.V.
Bottles,
I.V.Sets
-4 kgs
I.V.
Bottles
I.V.Sets,
cottons
-3 kgs
Cottons
dressing waste
-1 kgs
-
Page 21
-
-
-
-
-
I.V.Bottles&
I.V Sets,blood
International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume3 Issue 6 Number1–Nov 2012
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
Casuality ward
New born ward
Isolation ward
T.B ward I
II
Eye ward
Lapracy ward
ISSN: 2231-5381
waste
-2 kgs
syringes
-0.5 kgs
Fruit
,food
&paper waste
,sweeping
&card
board
waste
-5 kgs
-
Ampules,
Needles
-0.5 kgs
Ampules,
Needles,bottles
-few Nos.
Fruit
,food Ampules,
&paper waste Needles
,sweeping
-1 kgs
&card
board
waste
8 kgs
Paper
Ampules,
waste,plastic
Needles
&disposable
-1.5 kgs
cups,
Food
&sweeping
waste -12 kgs
transformation
sets
-5 kgs
Bandages,
gauze pieces,
cotton
-3.5 kgs
Cloths &cotton
waste
-2 kgs
Cottons
and
dressing waste
- 0.5 kgs
-
-
-
-
-
Cottons,I.V.Set Chemical
s &I.V Bottles powder
- 2 kgs
-1.5 kgs
-
Needles, glass Dressing waste
pieces few Nos. cottonwaste,
cloths
-2 Kgs
Fruit
,food Needles, glass Gauze
Chemical
&paper waste, pieces few nos pieces,cottons , powder
sweeping
I.V.
Bottles -1.5 Kgs
http://www.ijettjournal.org
I.V.
Bottles
I.V.Sets
-3kgs
Page 22
-
-
International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume3 Issue 6 Number1–Nov 2012
&card
waste
-5 kgs
22.
23.
O.P.Ward
board
-
I.V.Sets
- 4 Kgs
Needles
Cotton,bandage
s
-5 Kgs
x-rays
Total waste
ISSN: 2231-5381
-
-
-
162 Kgs
16 Kgs
59 Kgs
http://www.ijettjournal.org
Page 23
-
-
Chemical
powder, radio
active waste
- 3 kgs
31.5 Kgs
51 Kgs
International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume3 Issue 6 Number1–Nov 2012
Table 2.2 QUANTITY OF BIO-MEDICAL WASTE MANAGMENT
TYPE OF WASTE ( Kg)
Sl.No
1.
SOURCE
Kitchen
Blood bank
3.
Operation theatre
4.
Laboratory
5.
Men medical
6.
7.
Labour septic
-complicated
-normal
Men surgical
ISSN: 2231-5381
GENERAL WASTE
BIO- MEDICAL
WASTE
10
-
10
6
6
12.5
12.5
5
5
20
12
32
20
29.5
49.5
20
10
30
-
2.
-
I
II
I
II
III
TOTAL WASTE
(Kg)
http://www.ijettjournal.org
Page 24
EXISTING
DISPOSAL
METHOD
Collected by
Municipality
International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume3 Issue 6 Number1–Nov 2012
Men surgical
8.
I
II
III
15
13
28
9.
Men post operative ward
2
5
7
10.
Female post operative
ward
Men Medical – I
II
2
4
6
15
8
23
20
9
29
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
Men Medical – I
II
6
3
9
Children ward
Family planning ward
-
1
1
ICU
2
8.5
10.5
Casualty ward
5
4
9
New born ward
-
2
2
Isolation ward
8
4.5
12.5
T.B ward – I
II
Eye ward
12
5
17
-
2
2
ISSN: 2231-5381
http://www.ijettjournal.org
Page 25
Collected by
Municipality
International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume3 Issue 6 Number1–Nov 2012
21.
22.
23.
Lapracy ward
5
5.5
10.5
OP ward
-
5
5
X-ray unit
-
3
3
162 Kg
157.5 Kg
319.5 Kg
Total waste
44
ISSN: 2231-5381
http://www.ijettjournal.org
Page 26
Collected by
Municipality
International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume3 Issue 6 Number1–Nov 2012
3.1 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Table 3.1 and 3.2 gives to the quantity of general and bio medical waste
arising from different wards and units of the hospital. Table 4.1 gives the proposed
color coding for the bins and method for treatment and disposal of general and biomedical waste arising from the hospital.
From this it is seen that the waste arising from kitchen is vegetable and food
waste of about 10 Kgs with no trace of medical waste. They are collected in plastic
bin of green colour.
Wastes arising from blood bank are of medical waste and consist of sharps and
infectious waste. Sharp waste is around 1Kg per day, which includes disposable
syringes, glass slides, etc. Infectious waste such as disposable blood bag, blood
transformation set, lancet, cotton, serum bottle of around 5 Kgs. Both the wastes are
collected in one bin and disposed through incineration.
Wastes from operation theatres are infectious sharp, chemical and potentially
infectious plastics. Quantity of waste arising from this unit is about 12.5 Kg/day. Only
one bin is used for collecting the wastes. The quantity of waste arising from men
medical wards is about 30 Kgs including general and medical waste. Where food
wastes is maximum compared to other waste.
Quantity of waste from Labor septic ward includes general waste of about 20
kgs and medical waste of about 30 Kgs. I.V. bottles and I.V sets arising from this
ward are collected separately. Blood waste and placenta is around 20 Kgs in medical
waste.
It is found that about 60 Kgs of waste arise from male and female surgical
ward where general waste is about 35 Kgs and medical waste includes blades,
Ampules, needles, cotton, blood bags. Each ward contains 2 bins and the general
wastes are collected in one bin and medical wastes are collected in other bin. The
general wastes are disposed through landfills and the bio-medical wastes are disposed
through incineration.
Waste arising from men postoperation ward includes general waste of about 2
kgs of food waste and sweeping waste and bio medical waste of about 5 Kgs
including cotton wastes, pads, uro bags and gloves, I.V bottles and I.V. sets are
ISSN: 2231-5381
http://www.ijettjournal.org
Page 27
International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume3 Issue 6 Number1–Nov 2012
collected separately. The general wastes are disposed through landfills and medical
waste through incinerator.
Waste arising from female post-operative ward contains total waste of about 6
kgs. In that general waste comprises about 2 Kgs and medical waste of about 4 Kgs.
They are disposed by the method suggested in post-operative ward
The waste arising from men and female medical wards are of 52 Kgs out of
this 35 Kgs are of general waste and 17 Kgs are of bio medical waste general waste
includes food waste, paper, card board waste, sweeping waste etc. The medical waste
consists of sharp waste like needles, Ampules, blood transformation sets and
infectious wastes like cotton, bandages, cloths, and chemical powders. The I.V bottles
and I.V sets are collected separately and they are disposed.
In children ward the medical waste of 3 Kgs and general waste of 6 Kgs are
generated. The medical waste includes cotton, bottles I.V sets blood transformations
and general wastes like food waste, fruit waste, plastic and sweeping waste.
In family planning ward no trace of general waste were found and medical
waste accounts of about 1 Kg.
The quantity of waste arising from the ICU ward around 11 Kgs includes both
general and medical waste. I.V bottles and I.V sets are also collected separately in this
ward.other waste includes needle syringes blood bags, gauze piece, paper and plastic
waste, cotton waste. The general waste are disposed by landfills and the bio medical
waste are disposed by incineration.
In causality ward, general waste generated is about 5 Kgs and medical waste
about 4 Kgs . Medical waste includes needles, ampules, bandages, gauze pieces and
cottons.
The waste from new born ward includes cloth, cotton wastes, medicine bottles
which comes around 2 Kgs.
Waste from isolation ward comprises both general and medical waste. General
waste is about 8 Kgs, sharps around 1Kg, infectious waste such as cotton and dressing
waste of about ½ Kg, I.V bottles and sets of about 3 Kgs.
The total waste from T.B wards is about 17 Kgs. In this general waste is about
12 Kgs and medical wasting about 5 Kgs.
The medical waste includes needle,
ampules, bottle, cotton, I.V bottles and sets.
ISSN: 2231-5381
http://www.ijettjournal.org
Page 28
International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume3 Issue 6 Number1–Nov 2012
No trace of general waste is found in Eye ward and medical waste comprises
about 2.5 Kgs, which includes needles, glass pieces, dressing waste cotton clothes
etc.
Waste from Lapracy ward is around 11 Kgs. In that medical waste is about 6
Kgs and general waste likes paper waste and food waste is about 5 Kgs.
From the above details the total quantity of wastes is about 319.5 Kgs. Of this
total waste produced, medical waste is about 48 % and general waste comprises about
52%.
All these wastes are collected in separate bins provided in each ward. General
and bio-medical wastes are collected separately. But while transporting, they are
mixed together and dumped in a separate place near mortuary inside the hospital.
TABLE 3.1 PROPOSED CONTAINER COLOUR CODING FOR MEDICAL
WASTE AND GENERAL WASTE
Quantity per day
Type of waste
Colour coding
(Kg/day)
General waste
162
Sharps
16
Infectious waste
Chemical and liquid
waste
Infectious/
Potentially infectious
plastics
59
31.5
51
Green
White/
Translucent puncture proof
bag/ container
Yellow
Black
Red

Green colour bags and containers are to be used to store the general wastes.

Sharps may damage the bags, so puncture proof containers are to be used .

Infectious wastes are to be collected in Yellow bags .

Black containers are suggested for collection of chemical waste and

Red colour containers for infectious / potentially infectious plastic.
If all the measures suggested by us are adopted , the effect of waste and its hazardous
can be minimized.
ISSN: 2231-5381
http://www.ijettjournal.org
Page 29
International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume3 Issue 6 Number1–Nov 2012
CONCLUSION
Since environmental pollution has become a major concern with respect to the
future of life on our planet. It is legal duty of the management of the health care
institution to ensure that bio-medical waste are managed properly without putting
extra burden on health care staff in their duties and causing any adverse impacts on
human health or environment. Based on the results the following suggestions were
listed as follows:

The doctors and nurses should take the responsibility to classify correctly the
bio-medical waste at the source, which allows subsequent waste segregation to
occur properly.

Simplified colour coding system of hospital waste management can be
introduced instead of introducing complex system with too many colour coded
bags or bins simplified colour coding system as
1. Yellow bag/bin that needs to incinerate or deep burial containing human
microbiological waste, sharp waste, discarded medicine, Cytotoxic drugs,
and soiled waste.
2. Red bags/ bins that needs to autoclave, chemical Disinfection or
microwave containing plastic waste, disposable items like tubes, catheter,
blood or uro bags, gloves etc.
3. Black bags/ bins that are to be send for secured Landfilling or burial,
containing chemical solid waste and incinerated ash.

Labeling is essential in the correct identification and safe management of medical
waste. All labeling and sign posting should be clean and use the international
symbols and colour coding as given in schedule.

Sharp management should be practiced by providing puncture resistant containers
or mutilate sharps at the point of generation using needle destroyers.
It is firmly believed that collective community effort rather than individual
attempts would make handling and disposal of bio- medical waste economically and
operationally viable.
ISSN: 2231-5381
http://www.ijettjournal.org
Page 30
International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume3 Issue 6 Number1–Nov 2012
REFERENCE
1. Srinivasa Chary.V1999 “Medical waste management practices in urban India and
strategies for safe Disposal”Bio-medical waste management proceedings.
2. Ram Srivastan.S, 1999 “Public-private partnership for infectious Medical waste
management in India, Bio-medical waste management proceedings.
3. Dr. Murali. R 1999 “Hospital waste disposal disposal in Tamil Nadu Government
Hospitals”,Bio-medical waste management proceedings.
4. Sudheer. S. Basargekar, 1999 “Bio-medical waste treatment Technology”, Biomedical waste management proceedings.
5. Dr. Sateesh V.L., 1999 “Bio-medical waste management-challenges for health
care managers”, Bio-medical waste management proceedings.
6. Ms.Bineesha & Dr. Mahendra. B. 1995 “Bio-medical waste management:
comprehensive approach & feasibility options”, Bio-medical waste management
proceedings.
7. Dr. Jane E.Rubienstern, 1999 “Alternate Technologies for handling & treating of
waste generated by health care sector”, Bio-medical waste management
proceedings.
8. Ms. Archana dange, 1999 “segregation and minimisation of Bio-medical wastes as
per the Bio-medical waste management proceedings.
9. Dr. Kalpana Balakrishna, 1999 “Strategies for sustainable initiatives in Biomedical waste management.”
10. Trunberg, Waynelk (Wayne) lawrence 1996 “Bio-Hazardous waste: Risk
Assement, policy & Management.
11. Sekar. T & Zakariya. K.M., “Efficient and safe disposal of Bio-medical waste for
an urban locality-a case study”.
12. Sathya Narayanan. S. 1999 “The global war on waste (WOW)is to be fought in
local battles”, Bio-medical waste management proceedings.
ISSN: 2231-5381
http://www.ijettjournal.org
Page 31