Definition of Bio-medical waste (as per Biomedical rules (Handling and Management) rules, 1998), Min of Environment and Forests, GOI
Bio-medical waste MEANS “any waste which is generated during
– the diagnosis,
– treatment or
– immunization of human beings or animals or
– in research activities or
– in production or testing of biologicals and
– Including categories as mentioned in schedule – 1”.

Biomedical waste poses hazard due to two principal reasons
– infectivity and
– toxicity.

Bio Medical waste consists of
• Human ANATOMICAL waste like tissues, organs and body parts
• Animal wastes generated during research from veterinary hospitals
• MICROBIOLOGY and biotechnology wastes
• Waste sharps like hypodermic needles, syringes, scalpels and BROKEN glass
• Discarded medicines and cytotoxic drugs
• Soiled waste such as dressing, bandages, plaster casts, material contaminated with blood, tubes and catheters
• Liquid waste from any of the INFECTED areas
• Incineration ash and other chemical wastes

15 – 20% of the waste in a health care facility is BMW
Rest 80% of general health care waste is comparable to normal domestic waste and can be handled by the urban waste management system