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

ensure that such waste is handled without any adverse effect to human health

and Environment. It is imperative therefore to adopt an environmentally safe

method for the disposal of used syringes in the prescribed manner to ensure that

they are not recycled/reused.

Kerala Gazette No. 25 dated 27th November 2012.

PART I

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.