The Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998: An Analysis in the Light of the Legal Framework

Bio Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules was enacted in July 1998. As per the rules it is the duty of every ‘occupier’ i.e. referred to the person having control over the institution or its respective premises to take appropriate steps thereby ensuring the generated waste is handled without causing adverse consequences to human health or their environment. It refers to any waste that is generated during the process of initial diagnosis, treatment or immunization of human beings or animals or in research-based activities relating thereto or in the overall production or testing of biologicals and includes categories stated clearly in Schedule 1. Furthermore the biomedical waste management policy that is followed at AIIMS is based on Biological Waste Management Rules 2016, notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climatic Changes, the Government of India as per the official gazette notification dated as 28th March 2016. However, prior to the notification, AIIMS had been following the Bio-medical Waste (Management & Handling) Rules issued in 1998 was notified by the same ministry. In the present scenario, the biomedical waste management at AIIMS has been subcontracted to the common biomedical waste management facility, M/S Biotic Waste Solutions Pvt. Ltd.