Enforce biomedical disposal norms

Enforce biomedical disposal norms

Personal protective equipment (PPE) — face masks and shields, gloves, head and shoe covers, and hazmat suits — is reportedly left strewn at the cremation grounds. This is a public health and environmental hazard, especially in the context of Covid-19. Detailed norms for the proper disposal of the PPE were put in place by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) as early as late March. The apex pollution control body must ensure that these norms are followed and those flouting them face heavy fines.

PPE has been classified as biomedical waste. Given the contagious nature of the disease and the varying lifespan of the virus, the CPCB decided that, in addition to the Biomedical Waste Management Rules, the disposal of PPEs required a set of specific norms, including the manner of collection, packaging for transport (double layer of packing to avoid leakage) and disposal. These norms are binding on healthcare facilities, quarantine and isolation centres, residences in cases of home care, sample collection centres and laboratories, urban bodies and their entities such as cremation and burial grounds, and the common biomedical waste treatment facilities. The rules are detailed, and if followed should allow for safe and proper disposal of PPEs.

Implementation has consistently been the Achilles heel. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, India generated some 550 tonnes of biomedical waste every day but non-compliance was rampant. Healthcare facilities failed to segregate the waste and did not pay fees for common biomedical waste treatment facilities. Covid-19 has worsened compliance The CPCB and its state units, in partnership with state governments, must step up enforcement and penalise those who fail the norms. Improper waste disposal will only aggravate the situation.