Report on biomedical waste management in Kerala, 01/06/2021
Report filed by the Environmental Engineer, Kerala State Pollution Control Board regarding biomedical waste management in Kerala in the matter of 'The Tribunal on its motion on the implementation of the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 in Kerala' Vs The State of Kerala & Others.
The issue was of dumping of biomedical wastes in the premises of Government Medical College, Kalamassery. The SPCB inspected the hospital on February 18, 2021 and collected samples of the waste water being discharged. Analysis of the sample collected showed that the parameters were exceeding the standards prescribed by the SPCB. Due to the pandemic situation, further inspection of the hospital could not be conducted. The hospital authorities have informed that biomedical wastes are stored in sheds with proper roofing and enclosure and these are disposed of through common biomedical waste treatment facility (CBWTF). They have also reported that the works of STP would be completed by the end of June 2021.
The report mentioned that besides the CBWTF at Kanjikode, Palakkad, one more CBWTF of 16 tonnes per day started operation at Ambalamedu, Ernakulam by Kerala Enviro Infrastructure Limited (KEIL). Consent to operate has been issued to KEIL on May 11, 2021 for operating the CBWTF for a term up to June 30, 2024.