Kerala State Pollution Control Board

The Biomedical Waste Management Rules 2016 were notified by Ministry of Environment Forests & Climate Change in March, 2016 with amendments in 16.03.2018, 10.05.2019 and 19.02.2019, in suppression of earlier Biomedical Waste (Management &Handling) Rules, 1998. Said Rules re-notified with an aim to improve the collection, segregation, processing, treatment and disposal of these bio-medical wastes in an environmentally sound management thereby, reducing the bio- medical waste generation and its impact on the environment. Non bedded clinics are required to obtain the one-time authorization from State Pollution Control Board. 

The BMW Rules, 2016 prescribed specific duties for occupier and operator of CBMWTF and also duties for authorities like Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of Defense, Central Pollution Control Board, State Government of Health, State Pollution Control Boards and Municipalities or Corporations or Urban Local Bodies.

Applicability of BMW Rules, 2016

All persons who generate, collect, receive, store, transport, treat, dispose, or handle bio-medical waste in any form including hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, dispensaries, veterinary institutions, animal houses, pathological laboratories, blood banks, AYUSH hospitals, clinical establishments, research or educational institutions, health camps, medical or surgical camps, vaccination camps, blood donation camps, first aid rooms of schools, forensic laboratories and research labs(Rule 2(1)). 

These rules are not applicable to radioactive wastes, lead acid batteries hazardous wastes, E-waste under and hazardous microorganisms genetically engineered microorganisms and cells as there are Rules exclusively for managing these wastes.

Importance of bar code system for the tracking BMW

Waste reduction and resource recovery is an important concept in all types of wastes. Likewise recyclable materials from bio medical waste can also be recovered scientifically without affecting the environment. There are instances of recovery of valuable materials through unscientific way by scrap vendors.  It is to ensure that the entire waste collected should be treated and disposed after recovering recyclable materials. Secondary handling, pilferage of recyclables or scattering or spillage by animals should not occur while handling the waste. To ensure that a bar code/QR code system is introduced and as per the Rule the bar code system to be implemented by the health care units in co operation with the common facility.

Common Treatment Facility in Kerala

As per BMW Rule captive treatment facilities are not encouraged if the service of CBMWTF is available within a distance of 75 km

At present two CBWTFs are functioning in the State

1. M/s IMAGE, Palakkad:                       55.8 TPD capacity

    IMAGE, IMA State Head Quarters, Anayara PO ,TVM-695029

2. M/s KEIL, Ernakulam:                        16 TPD (w.e.f.April 2021)

    Common TSDF Project, Ambalamedu, Kochi-682303