Kerala Gazette No. 25 dated 27th November 2012. PART I
GOVERNMENT OF KERALA
Environment (B) Department
CIRCULAR
No. 3781/B2/2011/Envt. Dated, Thiruvananthapuram, 5th November 2012.
Sub:—Environment Department—BMW—Safe disposal of disposable syringes—
instructions issued—reg.
Read:—G. O. (Ms.) No. 04/12/Envt. dated 13-3-2012.
Government had issued detailed instructions regarding the scientific management and handling of Bio-Medical Wastes generated from Health Care Institutions in the state as per the Government Order read above.
Now it has come to the notice that the disposable syringes collected by rag pickers are repacked and sold in the market. Used syringes may be contaminated with blood and body fluids and poses public health risk and is an environmental threat.
The unsafe disposal of needles and syringes is illegal and the treatment and disposal of Bio-Medical Wastes adhering to the statutory provisions of the Rules is mandatory for all institutions generating them. It shall be the duty of every occupier or an institution generating Bio-Medical Waste to take all steps to 2 In order to avoid this dangerous possibility, all Health Care Institutions using disposable syringes are directed to adopt appropriate technology for destroying injection needles as per standard norms and to ensure that the needles are not disposed of with other solid wastes and its reuse in any manner prevented after the intended use.
JAMES VARGHESE, Principal Secretary.
To
The Director of Health Services, Thiruvananthapuram (Requested to give necessary instructions to all concerned).
All District Medical Officers.
The Director, Directorate of Medical Education, Thiruvananthapuram.
The Chairman, Kerala State Pollution Control Board, Thiruvananthapuram.
The Director, Directorate of Environment & Climate Change, Thiruvananthapuram.
The Director, Urban affairs Department, Thiruvananthapuram
The Director of Panchayaths, Thiruvananthapuram.
All District Collectors.