Bio-Medical Waste Management

Treatment & Disposal

Dr K Srinivas
BMW - Definition
"Bio-Medical Waste" means any waste, which is
generated during the diagnosis, treatment or
immunization of human beings or animals or research
activities pertaining thereto or in the production or
testing of biological or in health camps.

Any Waste generated during

 Diagnosis, Treatment, Immunisation
 Human Beings
 Animals
 Research activities
 Production or testing of biological
 Heath Camps
Application
These rules shall apply to all persons who generate,
collect, receive, store, transport, treat, dispose, or
handle bio medical waste in any form including
hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, dispensaries,
veterinary institutions, animal houses, pathological
laboratories, blood banks, ayush hospitals, clinical
establishments, research or educational institutions,
health camps, medical or surgical camps, vaccination
camps, blood donation camps, first aid rooms of
schools, forensic laboratories and research labs.
Operations
Segregation

Collection & Transportation

Storage

Treatment

Disposal
Segregation
Biomedical waste shall be segregated in to four
categories
Yellow

Red

White (Transparent)

Blue
 Segregation
Yellow
Yellow colored bags/containers
must contain
 Human Anatomical Waste
 Animal Anatomical waste
 Soiled waste
 Expired or discarded medicines
 Chemical wastes
 Chemical liquid waste
 Discarded linen matters
 Microbiology & biotechnology
Human Anatomical Waste
Segregation
 It contains Human tissues, organs,
body parts and fetus etc

Animal Anatomical Waste

 It contains experimental animal
carcasses, body parts , organs, tissues,
including the waste generated from
the animals

Treatment Method: incineration, plasma pyrolysis& deep burial

 Segregation
Soiled waste
 It contains items contaminated
with blood, body fluids, like
dressings, cotton swabs, and bags
containing residual or discarded
blood and blood components
Treatment Method: Incineration,
Plasma Pyrolysis & Deep Burial

Expired or Discarded Medicines

 It contains pharmaceutical waste
like antibiotics, cytotoxic drugs, including
all items contaminated with cytotoxic
drugs along with glass and plastic
ampoules, vials etc.
Treatment Method: Incineration,
Encapsulation & Plasma Pyrolysis
 Segregation
Chemical waste

It contains chemicals used in production

of biological and used or discarded
disinfectants

Treatment Method: Incineration,

Encapsulation & Plasma Pyrolysis

Liquid waste generated due to use of

chemicals in production of biologicals
and used discarded disinfectants, silver
X-Ray films etc.
 Segregation
Discarded Mattress
It contains discarded linen mattresses,
beddings contaminated with blood and
body fluids

Treatment Method: Disinfection

Incineration& Plasma Pyrolysis

Microbiology and Biotechnology and

Clinical Laboratory Waste It contains blood bags, lab
cultures, stocks, specimens of
microorganism attenuated
vaccines, human animal cell
cultures, used in research
industrial laboratories,
Treatment Method: Autoclaving &
production Incineration
of biological
 Segregation

Red

 It contains contaminated waste

(Recyclables) generated from
disposable items such as tubing,
bottles, intravenous tubes and
sets catheters, urine bags,
syringes (without needles) and
vaccutainers with their gloves

Treatment Method:
Autoclaving , Microwaving, Hydroclaving, land filling
 Segregation
White
(Translucent)
 It contains waste sharps including
metals, needles, syringes, with fixed
needles from needle tip cutter or
burner, scalpels, blades, or any other
contaminated sharp object that may
cause puncture and cuts. This
includes both used, discarded and
contaminated metal sharps

Treatment Method: Autoclaving , Shredding, Encapsulation, land filling

 Segregation
Blue
it contains glassware broken
or discarded and
contaminated glass including
medicines vials and ampoules
except those contaminated
with cytotoxic wastes. And
also metallic body implants.

Treatment Method:
Disinfection, Microwaving, Hydroclaving
and Recycling
 Treatment & Disposal Systems
Dis-Infection
 Autoclaving
 Microwaving
 Hydroclaving
 Chemical Disinfection

Destruction
 High Temperature
 Incineration
 Plasma Arc and Other High Temperature Destruction

Disposal
 Secure Landfill
 Deep Burial
 Standards for Autoclaving
Gravity Flow Autoclave
 temperature of not less than 121°
C and pressure of 15 pounds per
square inch (psi) for an autoclave
residence time of not less than 60
minutes.
 temperature of not less than 135°
C and a pressure of 31 psi for an
autoclave residence time of not
less than 45 minutes.
 temperature of not less than 149°
C and a pressure of 52 psi for an
autoclave residence time of not
less than 30 minutes
 Standards for Autoclaving
Vacuum Autoclave

 temperature of not less than

121°C and pressure of 15 psi per an
autoclave residence time of not less
than 45 minutes

 temperature of not less than

135°C and a pressure of 31 psi for an
autoclave residence time of not less
than 30 minutes
Vacuum Autoclave
When operating a vacuum autoclave, medical waste
shall be subjected to a minimum of three pre-vacuum
pulse to purge the autoclave of all air. The air removed
during the pre-vacuum, cycle should be
decontaminated by means of HEPA and activated
carbon filtration, steam treatment, or any other method
to prevent release of pathogen. The waste shall be
subjected to the following:
 Microwaving
 The microwave should
completely and consistently kill the
bacteria and other pathogenic
organisms that are ensured by
approved biological indicator at the
maximum design capacity

shall not be used for cytotoxic,

hazardous or radioactive wastes,
contaminated animal carcasses, body
parts and large metal items.
 Hydroclaving
Standards for Hydroclaving
 An advanced autoclave
method for treating infectious waste
utilizing steam but much faster &
much heat penetration

 the holding time for waste is

15mins at 132°c or 30mins at 121°c

 The organic compounds of

waste are hydrolyzed and the waste
matter is reduced by weight and
volume
Chemical Disinfection
Chemical treatment using at least 10% Sodium
Hypochlorite having 30% residual chlorine for twenty
minutes or any other equivalent chemical reagent that
should demonstrate Log104 reduction efficiency for
microorganisms as given in Schedule- II.
 Needles Management

Needle cutter
Needle destroyer
Sterilization of Sharps
Dry Heat Sterilization

Waste sharps can be treated by dry heat sterilization

at a temperature not less than 1850C, at least for a
residence period of 150 minutes in each cycle, which
sterilization period of 90 minutes.
 Sharp Pits
A sharp pit or a facility for sharp encapsulation shall be
provided for treated sharps.

It is an option may also be worked out for recovery of

metal from sharps.
Shredding
After ensuring treatment by autoclaving or
microwaving followed by mutilation or shredding,
whichever is applicable, the recyclables from the
treated bio-medical wastes such as plastics and glass
shall be given to such recyclers having valid
authorisation or registration from the respective
prescribed authority.
 Incineration
It is a controlled combustion process where waste
is completely oxidized and harmful
microorganisms present in it are
destroyed/denatured under high temperature

85-90% of the BMW is treated with incineration.

 Incineration – Operating Standards

 The temperature of the primary chamber shall be a

minimum of 800 0C and the secondary chamber shall be
minimum of 10500C + or - 500C

 The secondary chamber gas residence time shall be at

least two seconds’

 Combustion efficiency (CE) shall be at least 99.00%.

The Combustion efficiency: C.E = %C02

-------------------- x 100
%C02 + % CO
 Emission Standards
S.N Parameter Standards (mg/Nm3)
o
01 Particulate matter 50
02 Nitrogen Oxides NO and NO2 400
expressed asNO2
03 HCl 50
04 Total Dioxins and Furans 0.1ng TEQ/Nm3
(at 11% O2)
05 Height
Stack Hg and its compounds 0.05
Minimum stack height shall be 30 meters above the ground and
shall be attached with the necessary monitoring facilities
 Standards for Incineration

The existing incinerators shall comply with the above

within a period of two years from the date of the
notification.

The existing incinerators shall comply with the standards

for Dioxins and Furans of 0.1ngTEQ/Nm3,

All upcoming common bio-medical waste treatment

facilities having incineration facility or captive incinerator
shall comply with standards for Dioxins and Furans.
 Standards for Incineration
Secondary combustion chambers of the existing incinerator
and the pollution control devices shall be suitably
retrofitted, if necessary, to achieve the emission limits

 Wastes to be incinerated shall not be chemically treated

with any chlorinated disinfectants

Ash from incineration of biomedical waste shall be

disposed of at common hazardous waste treatment and
disposal facility
 Standards for Incineration
Only low Sulphur fuel like Light Diesel Oil or Low Sulphur
Heavy Stock or Diesel Compressed Natural Gas, Liquefied
Natural Gas or Liquefied Petroleum Gas shall be used as fuel
in the incinerator.

Incinerators (combustion chambers) shall be operated with

such temperature, retention time and turbulence, as to
achieve Total Organic Carbon content in the slag and bottom
ashes less than 3% or their loss on ignition shall be less than
5% of the dry weight.

Combustion gas analyzer to be used to measure CO2, CO and

O2.
 Standards for Incineration

Install continuous emission monitoring system for the

parameters as stipulated by State Pollution Control Board
in authorisation and transmit the data real time to the
servers at State Pollution Control Board and Central
Pollution Control Board.

All monitored values shall be corrected to 11% Oxygen

on dry basis.
 Plasma Pyrolysis

 Thermal decomposition
of carbonaceous material
using atmospheric pressure
in the absence of oxygen

Heat causes the molecule

to disintegrate during
pyrolysis and leads to
fragmentation of
compounds.
 Standards for Plasma Pyrolysis
• The temperature of the combustion chamber after
plasma gasification shall be 1050 ± 50 o C with gas
residence time of at least 2(two) second, with minimum
3 % Oxygen in the stack gas.

• Combustion Efficiency (CE) shall be at least 99.99%.

 
C.E = %C02
----------------- x 100
%C02 + % CO
 Standards for Plasma Pyrolysis

The Stack height should be minimum of 30 m above ground level

and shall be attached with the necessary monitoring facilities.

Suitably designed air pollution control devices shall be installed with

the ‘Plasma Pyrolysis or Gasification to achieve the emission limits

Wastes to be treated using Plasma Pyrolysis shall not be chemically

treated with any chlorinated disinfectants
Disposal of Ash Vitrified Material
The ash or vitrified material generated from the
‘Plasma Pyrolysis or Gasification shall be disposed
off in accordance with the Hazardous Waste
(Management, Handling and Transboundary
Movement) Rules 2008 and revisions made
thereafter in case the constituents exceed the
limits prescribed under Schedule II of the said
Rules or else in accordance with the provisions of
the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986,
whichever is applicable.
 Effluent Discharge Standards
The effluent generated or treated from the premises before
discharge into the sewer should conform to
 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.

Sludge from ETP shall be disposed in TSDF

ETP
Disposal of Haz Wastes
The handling and disposal of all the mercury waste and
lead waste shall be in accordance with the respective
rules and regulations.
Deep Burial
Disposal by deep burial is permitted only in rural or remote
areas where there is no access to common bio-medical
waste treatment facility.

This will be carried out with prior approval from the

prescribed authority and as per the Standards specified in
Schedule-II.

The deep burial facility shall be located as per the

provisions and guidelines issued by Central Pollution
Control Board from time to time.
Standards for Deep Burial
A pit or trench should be dug about two meters deep. It
should be half filled with waste, then covered with lime
within 50 cm of the surface, before filling 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 or 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.
Standards for Deep Burial
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

located so as to ensure that no contamination occurs
to surface water or ground water. The area should not
be prone to flooding or erosion.
Standards for Deep Burial
The location of the deep burial site shall be
authorised by the prescribed authority.
 
The institution shall maintain a record of all pits used
for deep burial.
 
The ground water table level should be a minimum of
six meters below the lower level of deep burial pit.
Wastes for Disposal
 Incineration Ash
 ETP sludge
 Encapsulated wastes
 Hazardous wastes
 Sterilized sharps
 others as per Rules.
Secured Landfill
 What is a Landfill
A Containment system which separates the waste from
the surrounding environment.

Objective: To Mitigate the migration of leachate and

minimize emissions.

Concept: Place the waste in isolation from the

environment.
 Waste Dump Site
precipitation

odor

gas

Rodents ,pests
& fire hazards
dust

re
litter ilu
fa
e
l op
S
WASTE Contaminated
soil

erosion
Contaminated LEACHATE
surface water

nd water
Contaminated grou
Secured / Sanitary Landfill
 Definition
Landfills (secured landfills or Sanitary landfills) are
solid waste disposal (or storage) facilities designed with
adequate protective measures against
 Ground water pollution,
 Surface water pollution,
 Air pollution,
 Fire hazard,
 Birds menace
 Pests/rodents
 Green house gas emissions
 Noise
 Dust, wind blown litter
 Bad odour
 Slope instability and erosion
 Essential Components of an SLF
 A liner system at base and sides of the landfill.
 A leachate collection and control facility.
 A gas collection and control facility.
 A final cover system at the top of the landfill.
 A surface water drainage system.
 An environmental monitoring system.
 A closure and post-closure plan.
LANDFILL - DESIGN
• Design Life Planning of Landfills
• Waste Acceptance
• Site Selection
• Site Characterisation
• Landfill Layout
• Landfill Section
• Landfill Capacity
• Phased Operation
• Strategy For Management of Emissions
• Design Aspects
• Closure & Post-Closure Plan
Design Life of Landfill =
Design
Construction +
Life
Active Period +
Closure and
Post -Closure Period
Construction period = 1 year

Active Period = 10 to 25 years

Closure and Post Closure Period = 30 years

 Landfill Layout

 The layout of a landfill in plan is governed by the shape of

the area made available for landfilling
 About 80% of the total area is used for placement of the
waste
 The balance 20% of the area is covered by the following:
o Built-up area – office, laboratory, workshop, equipment
shelters, weighing scale
o Treatment facilities, for leachate and gas and pond for
storm water detention
o Fencing, roads, storm water drains
o Temporary holding areas for waste material, construction
materials.
o Environmental monitoring facilities.
Factors : Landfill Section
- Topography of the area
- Depth to groundwater table
- Availability of liner and cover material

Types :
- Below ground landfills (trench landfills)
- Above ground landfills (area landfills)
- Slope landfills
- Valley landfills (canyon landfills)
- A combination of the above
Below Ground and
Trench Landfills
 Above and
Below Ground Landfills
Slope and Valley Landfills
Landfills with Embankments
 Components of Landfills
(a) Liner System (b) Leachate Collection
Facility
(c) Daily Cells (d) Daily Cover

(e) Lift (f) Phase

(g) Intermediate Cover (h) Bench (Terrace)

(i) Final Cover System (j) Gas Collection Facility

 Estimation of Landfill Capacity
(Volume/Height/Area)
1. Waste generation rate = W tons per year

2. Active life of landfill = n years

3. Total waste in n years (T) = Wn tons

4. Volume of waste (V) = T/density cu.m

5. Volume for daily cover = 0.1 V

6. Volume for liner and final cover = 0.2 V to 0.3 V

 Estimation of Landfill Capacity
(Volume/Height/Area)
7. Total volume (Landfill Capacity) = V + 0.1V + 0.25 V

8. Total area available = A sq. m

9. Area for infrastructure = 0.15 A to 0.25 A

= 0.2 A
10. Area for landfilling = A – 0.2 A = 0.8 A

11. Height (+ depth) of landfill = 1.35 V / 0.8 A

(This is a preliminary estimate on the assumption that plan

dimensions are much larger than the height)
a)
Design of Components
Embankment Design
of Landfills
b) Liner Design
c) Leachate Collection and Treatment
d) Cover Design
e) Gas Collection and Treatment
f) Stability Analysis
g) Environmental Monitoring
h) Infrastructure Facilities
i) Estimation of Quantities and Costs
 Components of a Landfill
Well-Prepared Base
Base Liner System
Leachate Collection and Removal System
Waste…
Daily/ Intermittant Cover
Gas Removal System
Cap
Vegetative Cover
Stormwater Drainage System
 General Guidelines
Plasticity Index: 10 to 30
- CCL
Well-Graded
> 15% Clay Fraction
> 30% passing 75 um
< 50% Gravel content
Clod size < 50mm
Permeability <10 -9 m/s
Compacted to 4% wet of OMC
Maximum Dry Density 95% of ∞dmax
 GEO-MEMBRANES
Regulatory – 1.5 MM
Technical – Design Calculations
 With factor of Safety > 1.2
Installation Requirement - > 0.75 mm
Available in multiples of 0.25mm
Slope Stability
 Inside the cell > 1:3
 Cover Soil Stability > 1:4
 Gas Vent
Vegetation

(DOUBLE COMPOSITE LINER SYSTEM &

HAZARODUS WASTE LANDFILL CROSS Vegetative Soil 15 cm

Top Soil 45 cm
7-8mm Drainage
285 gsm GEOTEXTILE
Composite GEO NET
= 1.5mm HDPE Geo Membrane
CLAY.
60 cm

GAS COLLECTION MEDIA

SOIL COVER
COVER SYTEM)
SECTION

HAZARDOUS WASTE]

400 gsm GEOTEXTILE

200mm Thick Filter
Media (20mm Gravels)
30 cm
Leachate Collection Pipe
100mm Thick Sand
400 G.S.M Geo Textile
= 2mm HDPE Geo Membrane
Compacted Clay / Compacted Amended Soil 45 cm
285 gsm GEOTEXTILE
200mm Thick Filter
Media (20mm Gravels)
30 cm
Leachate Collection Pipe
100mm Thick Sand
400 G.S.M Geo Textile
= 2mm HDPE Geo Membrane
Compacted Clay / Compacted Amended Soil
45 cm

DRAWING NOT TO SCALE Sub Soil

NEEDED A LANDFILL
WITH DOUBLE LINER
AND LEACHATE COLLECTION SYSTEM

Waste Put on this

Mineral Liner Drainage Layer
Synthetic Liner Drainage layer Protection
Liner Protection Capping System
Leachate Collection
Landfill - Plan
Landfill Excavation Starts – Jan 2002
First HDPE Layer-
Leachate Pipe & Filter Media on First HDPE layer
Second HDPE Lining under progress – Oct 2002
Second HDPE Layer
Landfill Overview
Leachate Collection System

Primary – Header and

Lateral Pipes
Embedded into
Drainage Media
Leading to Primary
Sump
Secondary – as above
& Secondary Sump
Construction QA/ QC QA/ QC
 Clay Laying and Compaction
 Layers not exceeding 200 mm
 Permeability
 Graded and finished
 Slopes with cutting
 HDPE Liner
 Laying
 Seam Testing
 Walk over inspections
 Overall testing
 Drainage Media
 Sharp Edge Stones
 Protection of Liner
 Leachate Network
 Clay Lining
Laying of Black Cotton Soil
Placing and Compaction
 Clay Lining QA/QC
 Laying to ensure thickness of each
layer does not exceed 300 mm.

 Clod size of the clay particles <

50mm

 Clay Fraction > 15%

 Particles < 75 u > 30%
 Gravel Fraction < 30%

 Plasticity Index – 10 –30

 Permeability < 10 –9 m/s

 Grading and Finishing (2% Slope)

 Others
 HDPE Lining
2mm HDPE Liner laying
Hot Wedge & Extrusion Welding
LINER WELDING & TESTING
 400 GSM Geo
textile laying

Filter metal laying

Operating Landfill
 Landfills
Monsoon Capping
Capped Landfill
THANK YOU
Thank you