•Large population and various human activities lead to the drastic shortage of fresh water in India.
• A large part of the population is unaware of the treatment of sewage waste before discharge.
• Sewage water consists 1 percent inorganic and organic matter suspended in soluble form, which can be detected by Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) value.
• Sewage water contains the microflora of human intestinal tract as well as many soil and water species, some fungus and viruses.
• Sewage disposal plants are operated for treatment of waste water before its release into streams. The waste water treatment plants are designed based on their capability to provide primary, secondary (biological), and tertiary (advanced) treatment.
• Primary treatment removes large floating objects, secondary treatment removes suspended organic material through microbiological degradation, whereas tertiary treatment removes phosphorus and nitrogenous nutrients and all suspended organic matter from waste water.
• All non-liquid waste materials generated from households, streets, industrial, commercial and agricultural activities are called solid wastes.
• Solid wastes can be categorised into two groups: (i) biodegradable waste and (ii) non-biodegradable waste.
• Decomposition of solid wastes are associated with various diseases, like malaria, dengue, SARS, plague; attract animals, flies, vermins and can play a major role in the transmission of diseases.
• Solid waste management refers to the process of collecting, treating, and disposing of solid material that is discarded or is no longer useful.
•The handling and managing of solid waste involves two approaches—dumping and recycling the waste.
• Organic waste can be recycled through the process of composting. Fruits and vegetables waste, animal dung and fallen leaves from plants form an excellent soil conditioner and fertiliser (compost).
• Health care solid waste contains many infectious pathogens which needs incineration or safe burial immediately. The handler of the waste needs to take all precautions (wearing mask and gloves) while handling waste.
• Industrial solid waste can be of different kinds and the main concern associated with industrial waste is the proper disposal of chemical, biological and toxic metals, which is handled by the respective industries.
• Composting is the most powerful biological, chemical and physical activity, available in natural environment, where organisms under suitable conditions carry out biological degradation of material.
• Biomedical Waste Management Rules 2016 (BMWM) categorises the biomedical waste into four major categories based on the segregation pathway and standard colour code assigned for containers.
• Yellow colour code is for anatomical waste, soiled waste, discarded or expired medicines, chemical waste, bedding, microbiology and biotechnology and other clinical laboratory waste.
• Red colour code is for contaminated plastic waste: waste generated from disposable items like intravenous tubes, bottles, catheters, syringes without needles, fixed needle syringes with their needles cut, urine bags, vaccutainers and gloves.
• White colour code for sharps including metals; used, discarded and contaminated metal sharps, needles, syringes with fixed needles, needles from needle tip cutter, blades, scalpel or any other contaminated sharp object that may cause puncture and cuts.
• Blue colour code is for metallic body implants, broken or discarded and contaminated vials, ampoules.
• As per WHO guidelines, the biomedical waste is also classified on the basis of risk factors involved into four major groups.
• It is important to segregate waste at the point of its generation from handling point of view.
• Common Biomedical waste Treatment Facility (CBWTF) is available within 75 km of travelling distance of a health care facility.
• A symbol indicating ‘Biohazard’ should be placed in all colour coding and labels.
• The radioactive waste should be disposed of according to the guidelines issued and as per the provisions of the said rule.
