COVID-19: BMC Starts Collection Of Bio-Medical Waste From Doorsteps In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started collecting bio-medical waste from the doorsteps of houses where COVID-19 patients are under home isolation.

Jagruti Welfare Organisation, engaged by the BMC for the task, has deployed dedicated vehicles in compliance with the standards laid down by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for transportation of the bio-medical waste to the waste disposal centre of Sani Clean Pvt. Ltd. at Tangiapada near Khurda. At present, four vehicles are engaged.

The vehicles are sanitised after each trip and utmost caution and due diligence are maintained while handling the waste, the BMC stated in a release. The waste is collected through double layered non-chlorinated disposable plastic bags supplied by the Jagruti.

While the organisation will submit the reports of daily collection and transportation to BMC, it would cover around 100 houses per vehicle. Based on the prevailing situation and for increasing the efficiency of the work, BMC will issue Standard Operating Procedure from time to time. The civic body has appointed a nodal officer for monitoring the work.

According to CPCB, biomedical waste at home-isolation shall comprise used syringes, date expired or discarded medicines, used masks/gloves and in case of patients with other chronic diseases may also include drainage bags, urine bags, body fluid or blood-soaked tissues/cotton and empty ampules. As per the agreement, BMC shall pay Rs 5,750 per vehicle to Jagruti for collection of the bio-medical waste in the city per month.