In Maharashtra, the management of bio-medical waste has come under scrutiny due to the negligence of hospitals in segregating medical waste properly. This negligence is not only harming the environment but also posing serious health risks to the people living in the vicinity of common bio-medical waste treatment facilities (CBWTFs) across the state. A recent audit conducted by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) in collaboration with IIT Mumbai has shed light on the alarming situation.
The audit found that many hospitals and healthcare facilities (HCFs) in Maharashtra are not following the 2016 Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules. One example of non-compliance is the erroneous segregation of bio-waste, which results in improper disposal or incineration at CBWTFs. Consequently, individuals are facing serious health risks due to landfills and contaminated air.
CBWTFs like Deonar, Taloja, Nashik, Chandrapur, Pimpri Chinchwad, Talegaon, Satara, Baramati, Pune, Solapur, Kudal, Lote, Kolhapur, Sangli, Ichalkaranji, Dhule, Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Ahmednagar, Palghar, Kalyan, Jalna, Latur, and Sambhaji Nagar were specifically mentioned as areas of concern in the MPCB survey. The audit underscored the significance of appropriate waste segregation, emphasizing that distinct disposal or incineration techniques are needed for each kind of bio-waste.
In order to solve these problems, the MPCB has sent a warning to healthcare facilities, informing them that there would be frequent inspections and that breaking segregation regulations could result in fines and possibly even the revocation of bank guarantees. HCFs are required by the board’s stringent guidelines to register with a local approved CBWTF, separate trash at the source based on the categories listed in the Bio-Medical trash Management Rules 2016, and utilize barcoding bags for effective tracking and management.
Moreover, HCFs have until April 1, 2024, according to the MPCB, to adhere to these regulations. Legal action will be taken right away if there is non-compliance. The board places a strong emphasis on our shared duty to protect the environment and public health for coming generations.
Maharashtra’s predicament highlights how urgently strict adherence to biomedical waste management laws is required. Mitigating health risks and environmental pollutants connected with bio-medical waste treatment facilities requires effective waste segregation, appropriate disposal, and strict adherence to norms. To provide a safe and long-lasting approach to biomedical waste management in the state, cooperation between regulatory bodies, healthcare providers, and waste management facilities is essential.
