Introduction

Biomedical waste is defined as the waste that is generated during the diagnosis, treatment or immunization of human beings and are contaminated with the patients’ body fluids such as needles, syringes, ampoules, organs and body parts, placenta, dressings, disposables plastics and microbiological wastes.

Categories of Biomedical waste

1. Human Anatomical waste- It includes body parts, tissues, organs, blood and body fluids.
2. Animal waste- It includes body parts, tissues, organs , blood, body fluids, experimental animals used in research, waste generated by veterinary hospitals and animal houses.
3. Microbiology and biotechnology waste- The waste from laboratory culture, specimens of microorganisms, live or attenuated vaccines, human and animal cell cultures used in research , infectious agents from research and laboratories, wastes from production of biological toxins, dishes, devices and equipment used for transfer of cultures are all included in Microbiology and biotechnology waste.
4. Sharps-It includes both used and unused sharps, needles, syringes, blades, scalpels and glass.
5. Discarded medicines and Cytotoxic drugs-The wastes comprising of outdated, contaminated, expired and discarded medicines are included in this category.
6. Contaminated Solid wastes-The materials contaminated with blood and body fluids including cotton, dressings, soiled plaster casts, linen, beddings are all included in contaminated solid waste category.
7. Solid waste- Wastes generated from disposable items other than waste sharps like tubings, catheters, IV sets and other rubber material is included in this category.
8. Liquid waste-The wastes generated from laboratory, housekeeping, washing, kitchen drains, cleaning and other disinfection activities is included in this category.
9. Incineration Waste- Ash from incineration falls under this category.
10. Chemical waste- It includes chemicals used in the production of biological, chemicals used in disinfection as insecticides and pesticides used in gardening practices.