The Pollution Control Board, Assam (PCBA) has decided to introduce a bar-code system for scientific disposal of biomedical waste.
This smart step has been taken by the PCBA due to findings of the types of untreated biomedical waste being dumped in drains and open grounds by both private and government hospitals in different parts of the state.
The proposed system will be based on the cradle-to-grave concept which means that the entire life cycle of biomedical waste can be tracked, reports The Sentinel.
It will also help in knowing about the most important issues of biomedical waste- the generator of the waste and the place where it is getting disposed.
The Central Pollution Control Board under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has come out with draft guidelines on a ‘Bar Code System’ for proper disposal of the biomedical waste.
The bar-code label of the proposed bar-code system will contain the core information such as name of the healthcare facility, place, PIN code and unique ID that the State’s Pollution Control Board (PCB) issues to the Health Care Facility (HCF).
Fresh Air Water Management Services Pvt. Ltd. , a pioneer in disposal of Bio Medical Waste and liquid waste management in the entire northeast region, has collaborated with PCBA and has already started training hospitals in five districts of Assam the process of implementing the bar-code system.
The proposed bar-code system will have to be implemented by all states within March 31, 2019.