'Keep masks in paper bag for 72 hours before disposal': Central Pollution Control Board

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has issued its fourth set of guidelines for handling, treatment and disposal of waste generated during treatment, diagnosis and quarantine of COVID-19 patients.

The CPCB has underlined that waste masks and gloves in households should be kept in a paper bag for a minimum of 72 hours prior to disposal to prevent reuse.

The Board advised that discarded PPEs from general public at commercial establishments, shopping malls, institutions, offices, etc. should be stored in separate bin for 3 days, thereafter disposed of as dry general solid waste after cutting/shredding.

At Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), discarded PPEs containing plastic should be shredded and sent to SPCB authorized plastic waste recyclers, or may be converted into refuse derived fuel (RDF) for co-processing or energy recovery (in Waste to Energy Plants) or for road making.

On the other hand, healthcare facilities having isolation wards need to keep separate color coded bins (with foot operated lids), two bags or containers in wards and maintain proper segregation of waste. The CPCB also stated that bags/containers used for collecting biomedical waste from COVID-19 wards, should be labelled as "COVID-19 Waste". This marking would enable Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facilities (CBWTFs) to identify the waste easily for priority treatment and disposal immediately upon the receipt.

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