New Delhi: In a path-breaking development, Thiruvananthapuram-based CSIR-NIIST has developed an innovative solution for safe and sustainable management of pathogenic biomedical waste by turning it into soil additives. The innovation was showcased at the ongoing 82nd Foundation Day Celebrations of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research at the Bharat Mandapam here.
Biomedical waste, estimated at more than 770 tonnes per day in India in 2020, is often not segregated. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a steep increase in the amount of hazardous biomedical waste in the country.
The CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST) has developed a dual disinfection-solidification system for spontaneous and instantaneous disinfection of both liquid and solid biomedical waste, including urine, saliva and blood, bacterial broths, cotton, tissues, swabs, needles, and syringes, C Anandharamakrishnan, Director CSIR-NIIST said.
The innovative system converts degradable waste into soil additives while lab disposables are prepared for direct recycling, he said.
Segregation, transportation and disposal of such disinfected medical waste are easier and safer with significant reduction in cost for a healthcare facility and less expensive than red-bagging, a method currently in practice for containing medical waste.
The WHO had called for development of efficient methods for managing and disposing such waste, for the prevention of uncontrolled spread of infections, a statement from the NIIST said.
Also Read: The Human And Health Cost Of Delhi’s Garbage Mountains And Waste Crisis
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
