STRICT instructions for compliance of bio medical waste rules

Chandigarh, July 8, 2013: The Punjab Government has issued strict instructions to comply the guidelines for treatment of Bio Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998 in order to preserve environment and to save human health from the ill-treatment of bio medical waste. The instructions have been issued to all hospitals, nursing homes, laboratories, blood banks and all those institutions where medical wastes is generated, collected, stored, treated, disposed or handled.

Giving the details of instructions issued to all institutions here today, a spokesperson said that Bio medical waste would not be mixed with other wastes. He said that Bio medical waste would be segregated into containers/bags at the point of generation in accordance with rules prior to its storage, transportation, treatment and disposal.  The containers would be labeled according to rules.

He further said that no untreated bio-medical waste would be kept stored beyond a period of 48 hours, provided that if for any reason it becomes necessary to store the waste beyond such period, the authorised person must take permission of the prescribed authority and take measure to ensure that the waste does not adversely affect human health and the environment.  He said that every occupier/operator shall submit an annual report to the prescribed authority every year, to include information about the categories and quantities of bio medical wastes handled during the preceding year.