TURA: The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) has directed all Health Care facilities including hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and others to strictly follow the norms and standards as laid down in the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 while disposing bio-medical wastes including those of Covid-19.
Further, the Board appealed to the general public to adhere to environmentally sound management of USED MASK, GLOVES and PPE in accordance with the ‘Guidelines for Handling, Treatment and Disposal of Waste Generated during Treatment/Diagnosis/ Quarantine of COVID-19 Patients-Revision-4’ issued by the Central Pollution Control Board, New Delhi.
“Waste masks and gloves in general households should be kept in paper bag for a minimum of 72 hours prior to disposal of the same as dry general solid waste after cutting the same to prevent reuse”, the order stated.
Discarded PPEs from general public at commercial establishments, shopping malls, institutions, offices, etc, should be stored in separate bin for 3 days and thereafter disposed of as dry general solid waste after cutting/shredding, it added.
With regard to used mask from visitors to crematorium/ graveyards including crematorium staff, the order directed that such wastes should be collected in separate bins and stored for 71 hours prior to disposal as dry general solid waste through local bodies.
