STANDARDS FOR TREATMENT & DISPOSAL OF BIO-MEDICAL WASTES

 

Overview

All incinerators shall meet the following operating and emission standards:

  • Operating Standards

    • Combustion efficiency (CE) shall be at least 99.00%

    • The Combustion efficiency is computed as follow:

    • The temperature of the primary chamber shall be 800±50 șC.

    • The secondary chamber gas residence time shall be at least (one) second at 1050±50  șC ,with minimum 3% Oxygen in the stack gas.

  • Emission Standards

    S. No.

    		 Parameters Concentration mg/Nm3 at (12% CO2 correction)
    1. Particulate matter 150
    2. Nitrogen Oxides 450
    3. HCl 50
    4. Minimum stack height shall be 30 meters above ground  
    5. Volatile organic compounds in ash not be more than 0.01%  

Note:

Suitably designed pollution control devices should be Installed/retrofitted with the incinerator to achieve The above emission limits, if necessary.

  • Wastes to be incinerated shall not be chemically treated with any chlorinated disinfectants.

  • Chlorinated plastics shall not be incinerated.

  • Toxic metals in inceration ash shall be limited within The regulatory quantities as defined under the Hazardous Waste (Management & Handling Rules), 1989.

  • Only low sulphur fuel like L.D.O./L.S. H.S./Diesel shall be used as fuel in the incinerator.

STANDARDS FOR WASTE AUTOCLAVING

    The autoclave should be dedicated for the purposes of Disinfecting and treating bio-medical waste,

    1. When operating a gravity flow autoclave, medical waste shall be subjected to:

      1. A temperature of not less than 121oC and pressure of 15 pounds per square inch (psi) for an autoclave residence time of not less than 60 minutes; or

      2. A temperature of non less than 135 oC and a pressure of 31 psi for an autoclave residence time of not less than 45 minutes; or

      3. A temperature of not less than 149 oC and a pressure of 52 psi for an autoclave residence time of not less than 30 minutes.

    2. When operating a vacuum autoclave, medical waste shall be Subjected to a minimum of one pre-vacuum pulse to purge the Autoclave of all air. The waste shall be subjected to the following :

      1. A temperature of not less than 121 oC and pressure of 15 psi for an autoclave residence time of not less than 45 minutes; or

      2. A temperature of not less than 135 oC' and a pressure of 31 psi for an autoclave residence time of not less than 30 minutes;

    3. Medical waste shall not be considered properly treated unless the time, temperature and pressure indicators indicate that the required time, temperature and pressure were reached during the autoclave process. If for any reasons time temperature or pressure indicators indicates that the required temperature, pressure or residence time was not reached, the entire load of medical waste must be autoclaved again until the proper temperature, pressure and residence time were achieved.

    4. Each autoclave shall have graphic or computer recording devices which will automatically and continuously monitor & record dates, time of day, load identification number and operating parameters throughout the entire length of the autoclave cycle.

    5. Validation test

      Spore testing :

      The autoclave should completely and consistently kill the approved biological indicator at the maximum design capacity of each autoclave unit. Biological indicator for autoclave shall be Bacillus stearothermophilus spores using vials or spore strips, with at least 1x10 4 spores per milliliter. Under no circumstances will an autoclave have minimum operating parameters less than a residence time of 30 minutes, regardless of temperature and pressure, a temperature less than 121 oC or a pressure less than 15 psi.

    6. Routine Test

    A chemical indicator strip/tape that changes when a certain temperature is reached can be used to verify that a specific temperature has been achieved. It may be necessary to use more than one strip over the waste package at different location to ensure that the inner content of the package has been adequately autoclaved.

     

    STANDARDS FOR LIQUID WASTE

    The effluent generated from the hospital should conform to the following limits:

    Parameters

    Permissible Limits

    pH

    6.5 - 9.0

    Suspended Solids

    100 mg/l

    Oil and Grease

    10 mg/l

    BOD

    30 mg/l

    COD

    250 mg/l

     

    Bio-assay test 90% survival of fish after 96 hours in 100% effluent these limits are applicable to those hospitals which are either connected with sewers without terminal sewage treatment plant or not connected to public sewers. For discharge into public sewers with terminal facilities, the general standards as notified under the Environment Protection Act, 1986 should be applicable.

    STANDARDS OF MICRO WAVING

    1. Microwave treatment shall not be used for cytotoxic, hazardous or radioactive wastes, contaminated animal carcasses, body parts and large metal items.

    2. The microwave system shall comply with the efficacy test/ routine tests and a performance guarantee may be provided by the supplier before operation of the unit.

    3. The microwave should completely and consistently kill the bacteria and other pathogenic organisms that is ensured by approved biological indicator at the maximum design capacity of each microwave unit. Biological indicators for microwave shall be Bacillus Subtilis spores strips with at least 1 x 104 spores per milliliter.

    STANDARDS FOR DEEP BURIAL

    • A pit or trench should be dug about 2 meters deep. It should be half filled with waste, then covered with lime within 50 cm of the surface, before filing the rest of the pit with soil.

    • It must be ensured that animals do not have any access to burial sites. Covers of galvanised iron/wire meshes may be used.

    • On each occasion, when wastes are added to the pit, a layer of 10 cm of soil shall be added to cover the wastes.

    • Burial must be performed under close and dedicated supervision.

    • The deep burial site should be relatively impermeable and no shallow well should be close to the site.

    • The pits should be distant from habitation, and sited so as to ensure that no contamination occurs of any surface water or ground water. The area should not be prone to flooding or erosion.

    • The location of the deep burial site will be authorised by the prescribed authority.

    • The institution shall maintain a record of all pits for deep burial.

    •  A time limit has been defined by Govt. of India for installation of treatment facilities for Bio-medical waste as shown below:  

    SCHEDULE VI

    (See Rule 5)

    SCHEDULE FOR WASTE TREATMENT FACILITIES LIKE INCINERATION AUTOCLAVE/MICROWAVE SYSTEM

    1. Hospitals and nursing homes in towns by 31st December, 1991 with population  of 30 lakhs and above , by 31st Dec,1999 or earlier.

    2. Hospitals and nursing homes in towns with population of below 30 lakhs,

      1. with 500 beds and above by 31st December, 1999 or earlier

      2. with 200 beds and above but less by 31st December, 2000 than 500 beds    or earlier

      3. with 50 beds and above but less then 200 beds by 31st December, 2001 or earlier

      4.  with less than 50 beds by 31st December, 2002 or earlier

    3. All other institutions generating  bio-medical waste, not included in A or earlier and B above by 31st Dec, 2002.

    Application for authorisation should be in Prescribed Form I

    When any accident occurs at any institution or facility or any other site where bio-medical waste is handled or during transportation of such waste, the authorised person shall report the accident in Form III to the prescribed authority forthwith.