Generation, Quantification and Composition of Biomedical Waste Generated in Hospitals of a District in Northern India

Over the past two decades, health care waste has been identified as one of the major problems that have negative impact on both human health and environment. Information on generation rate provides a basis for the design of an operation, control programs, recycling and processing plants, wastes disposal projects and the choice of most effective disposal alternative. The objective of the study was to study Generation, Quantification and Composition of Biomedical Waste generated in hospitals in Faridabad Dist.of Haryana. The study was conducted from Feb 2006 to Jan 2007.There were more than 234 clinics/hospitals (Registered with Faridabad Pollution Board) and having more than 2400 beds in Faridabad hospitals. Data of various health care units was collected from an authorized private company collected waste generated at hospitals daily&from Haryana Pollution Control Board Faridabad (HPCBF). Field observation and surveys were conducted to analyze segregation of waste. Waste generated by different hospitals at Faridabad is different, varying from 1.17 kg/bed/day to 2.20 kg/bed/day. Infectious waste is 14% to 23.3 % of the total hospital waste. Non-infectious waste increases almost linear with infectious waste, and there is strong correlation between these two types of waste, with coefficient of correlation as 0.79. The generation rate of hospital waste varies with the bed occupancy rate. Private hospitals produce more hospital waste as compared to Govt, hospitals. Waste generation depends on various factors such as type of health care establishment, hospital specialties, proportion of reusable and disposal items, implementation of national and hospital waste management policy. Biomedical waste management regulations need to be implemented strictly so that appropriate and uniform disposal of Hospital waste is ensured.