Though India already has Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, the new guidelines were released to ensure that the waste generated specifically during testing of people and treatment of Covid-19 patients is disposed of in a scientific manner, as per a report in Quartz.

According to the existing rules, biomedical waste is any waste that is generated during the diagnosis, treatment or immunisation of human beings, animals or research activities, etc. It could include human tissues, items contaminated with blood, body fluids like dressings, plaster casts, cotton swabs, beddings contaminated with blood or body fluid, blood bags, needles, syringes, or any other contaminated sharp object.

For Covid-19 isolation wards, the guidelines stressed that, in addition to rules regarding biomedical waste, as a precaution, double-layered bags (two bags) “should be used for the collection of waste to ensure adequate strength and no-leaks.” “Collect and store biomedical waste separately prior to handing over the same (to) Common Bio-medical Waste Treatment Facility (CBWTF).

Use a dedicated collection bin labelled as Covid-19 to store Covid-19 waste and keep separately in a temporary storage room prior to handing over to the authorised staff of the CBWTF. Biomedical waste collected in such isolation wards can also be lifted directly from ward into CBWTF collection van,” said the guidelines while seeking a separate record of waste generated from Covid-19 isolation wards.

The guidelines also sought that bags and or containers used for collecting biomedical waste from the isolation wards should be labelled as Covid-19 waste to enable CBWTFs to identify the waste easily for priority treatment and immediate disposal after getting it, as per the report. In addition, the guidelines sent to all states, direct use of dedicated trolleys and collection bins in the isolation wards and recommended that the surface of containers, bins, trolleys used for storage of Covid-19 are disinfected regularly.

The CPCB suggested similar steps for the sample collection centres and laboratories for Covid-19 suspected patients. The Board said opening or operation of Covid-19 ward, sample collection centres and laboratories should also be intimated to the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs).