Biomedical waste management (BMW) prevents the spread of infection and environmental contamination. The rules dictate segregation at the source of generation.
BMW Color-Coding Categories
1. Yellow Bag (Infectious/Anatomical Waste)
- Human anatomical waste, tissues, organs, and body parts.
- Animal anatomical waste.
- Items contaminated with blood and body fluids (cotton, dressings, plaster casts).
- Expired or discarded medicines, antibiotics, and cytotoxic drugs.
2. Red Bag (Recyclable Plastic Waste)
- Waste generated from disposable items such as tubing, bottles, intravenous tubes and sets, catheters, urine bags, syringes (without needles), and gloves.
3. White Cardboard Box/Translucent Container (Sharps)
- Needles, syringes with fixed needles, blades, scalpels, and other sharp metal objects. This container must be puncture-proof and leak-proof.
4. Blue Cardboard Box (Glassware)
- Broken or discarded glass bottles, ampoules, vials, and metallic body implants.
