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Solid Waste Management

Inspections of of biomedical waste treatment plants rare, as KSPCB falls short-staffed

Friday, 28 April 2017 00:00 administrator
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The New Indian Express     28.04.2017  

Inspections of of biomedical waste treatment plants rare, as KSPCB falls short-staffed

BENGALURU: While the Central Pollution Control Board stipulates exhaustive checklists for performance evaluation of biomedical waste treatment plants, inspections are rare - once in a quarter.

The reason is that the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) is short-staffed.

“There are just 100 officers in our regional offices. How can we conduct inspections of 27,000 healthcare facilities? We have additional responsibilities of checking air, noise, water and soil pollution. We inspect the plants once in a quarter and it is not possible to check every clinic”, said a senior environmental officer in KSPCB.

However, there are strict norms for disposal of medical waste.

Wilfred John, head, operations, Vikram Hospital said, “We generate 180 kg of biomedical waste per day. When we hand over waste bags to Anu Autoclave lorries, the data is uploaded on KSPCB server. When Anu receives waste at its treatment plant in Hosakote, it will also inform KSPCB on the number of bags received. So, waste cannot be dumped anywhere during transportation”.


John said his hospital conducted plant inspection and found it satisfactory.

 

E-waste collection centres in each ward

Saturday, 15 April 2017 00:00 administrator
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The New Indian Express       15.04.2017 

E-waste collection centres in each ward

BENGALURU: The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) will soon issue guidelines to manufacturers of electronic products to set up e-waste collection centres in wards or zones across the state. Residents dropping off electronic products will get a nominal amount. 

Last year, a study conducted by Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India said Bengaluru is sitting on an ‘e-waste bomb’.

KSPCB issued a circular to government offices asking them to comply with the E-Waste Management Rules, 2016, wherein bulk consumers have to maintain records of e-waste generated by them and to dispose the same to authorised collection centres.

Moving forward, KSPCB will issue guidelines to manufacturers to set up e-waste centres where individuals, organisation and others can drop old electronic goods. 

Lakshman, KSPCB chairman, said the board will issue guidelines to all manufacturers and recylers of e-waste from next month. “We are writing letters to these centres asking them to shut if they do not have their own recyling units attached.

This means these units can’t trade e-waste to other agencies, but have to make a facility to dispose and reuse if any. These centres will pay money to customers who come to deposit e-waste,” said Lakshman. 

As KSPCB does not have authenticated data of e-waste generated in the state, as per the direction of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), KSPCB will conduct a survey on e-waste generated. This survey is expected to help estimate the number of e-waste collection centres required in the state.  

KSPCB will be fixing a rate for empanelled vendors to pick up medical waste from hospitals and nursing homes. “It will be `4.5 per bed per month,” Lakshman said.

 

NGT notice to waste generators

Tuesday, 11 April 2017 00:00 administrator
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The Hindu      11.04.2017

NGT notice to waste generators

The National Green Tribunal on Monday issued notices to major waste generators in the city including five-star hotels, malls, hospitals, educational institutions with hostels, and housing societies which have not complied with Solid Waste Management Rules 2016.

A Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar asked these defaulting bodies to reply within two weeks as to why they should not be asked to pay environment compensation of Rs. 5 lakh for failing to properly manage and treat sewage.

Hotels in the dock

The NGT issued notices to eight defaulting hotels and two hospitals in the New Delhi Municipal Council, seven hotels, four malls, five hospitals, railway and bus stations in East Delhi Municipal Corporation, besides many such institutions in North and South Delhi Municipal Corporation. The order came after a report submitted by a committee recommended action against defaulting bodies for improper management of waste.

 

 
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