BIOMEDICAL WASTE INCINERATOR
The
Kerala Enviro Infrastructure Limited, which runs a Common Hazardous Waste
Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility (CHWTSDF) at Ambalamedu, has
submitted a detailed project report to the State government and the State
Pollution Control Board seeking approval to set up an incinerator for the
treatment and disposal of biomedical waste.There is only one such facility,
named IMAGE (Indian Medical Association Goes Eco-friendly), at Palakkad to
handle the biomedical waste generated in hospitals and medical institutions
across the State.“Our proposal is to set up the incinerator on 2.5 acres
alongside our existing facility,” N.K. Pillai, CEO, Kerala Enviro
Infrastructure Limited, told The Hindu.The company has also sought
the subsidy granted by the Ministry of Environment and Forest to such
facilities. However, the Union government’s subsidy component will have to be
matched by the State government concerned.
“The
subsidy is vital for the viability of the project since not all medical
institutions will be able to afford the charge for the service,” Mr. Pillai
said.He said the absence of sufficient facilities for treating biomedical waste
is harmful on more than one count.It is estimated that about one lakh tonnes of
biomedical waste is generated in the State annually by medical institutions,
including big and small hospitals, clinics and other smaller medical
facilities.A single waste disposal facility means it is hard pressed to cater
to the entire demand, besides leading to the violation of the Bio-Medical Waste
(Management and Handling) Rules, which prohibits transportation of such waste
beyond 150 km, Mr. Pillai said.
If
the proposal is approved, the operator of the facility will have to collect the
waste from hospitals on a daily basis since biomedical waste cannot be stored
for long. The onus will be on hospitals to segregate waste based on their
nature and keep it in bags of different colours.All kinds of waste cannot be
incinerated.Such waste will have to be sent through autoclaves to sterilize
them while the plastic components autoclaved will be shredded and dispatched
for recycling.For instance, plastic disposable syringes will be dealt with in
this manner while the needles will have to be separated and destroyed to ensure
that they are not reused.
Prof.
John Kurakar
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