Scenario for Assessment of Biomedical Waste Quantities and Composition in Healthcare Facilities During and Post COVID-19 Eras in Delhi NCR

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant surge in biomedical waste production within India’s healthcare system, placing a heavy burden on the waste management process. Authorities in Delhi faced major challenges in handling and treating the escalating volumes of medical waste generated from various healthcare facilities like hospitals, clinics, Quarantine centres, etc. This, combined with the need to properly segregate and dispose of COVID-19-related biomedical waste, has put considerable strain on the healthcare management system. This study explores the change in the composition of Biomedical waste generated during and post COVID19 duration in major private hospitals in Delhi NCR (National Capital Region) from the period of March 2020 to March 2022 during the peak Wave 1, post Wave1, Wave 2, post Wave 2, Wave 3 and post Wave 3 respective durations of pandemic. Data of BMW (Biomedical waste) are collected according to the colour coding having four categories (a) yellow (human and animal anatomical waste; soiled waste; medicines; contaminated linen, beddings, etc.; laboratory wastes, etc.), (b) red (contaminated disposable items), (c) blue (contaminated glass except those contaminated with cytotoxic glass), and (d) white (waste sharps including metals) and analysed. Apart from this, the study emphasizes a comparative analysis of the composition of biomedical waste generated in healthcare facilities and its variation. It also identifies a trend that mirrors the number of COVID-19 cases reported in the Aarogya Setu application.