Soon, barcodes for biomedical waste to ensure proper disposal

VISAKHAPATNAM: Due to the increasing concern over the disposal, collection and treatment of biomedical waste in the city, the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) is set to implement a barcoded labelling system for biomedical waste very soon.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has drafted guidelimes for effective management of biomedical waste under the Union environment ministry’s biomedical waste management rules, 2016.
The barcoding system will help track waste from the source it is generated to the destination where it is treated. Under the rule, all healthcare centres including hospitals, laboratories, diagnostic centres, clinics, blood banks, nursing homes and other premises generating biomedical waste will have to establish a barcode system for bags or containers which are sent out of the premises.
The operator who is responsible for handling of biomedical waste will also establish the barcode system. This will help identify the waste from the point of generation as well as the quantity of waste generated from each source. The barcoding system will contain information like name of the healthcare centre, place, pin code and a unique ID which will be issued by the APPCB to healthcare centres.
According to B Sivaji, executive director of Maridi Eco Industries (Andhra) Private Limited, the organisation that is responsible for treating biomedical waste in the city said, “Around 2-2.5 tonnes of biomedical waste is generated every day from as many as 650-700 health centres in Visakhapatnam district. There are seven tippers which are functioning on a daily basis in the district. Biomedical waste from 450-500 healthcare centres are collected daily.”
“All the healthcare centres will be encouraged to enforce the barcoding system in a few days.,” Sivaji added.