KSPCB steps up action to tackle spike in non-COVID biomedical waste

The Secretary of IMAGE had informed the board that it may not be able to collect, transport and dispose of the biomedical waste beyond the permitted capacity of 55 tonnes per day at its facility in Palakkad.

Kerala State Pollution Control Board has asked the Indian Medical Association Goes Eco Friendly (IMAGE) to hand over 10 to 12 tonnes of non-COVID biomedical waste disposed of at its facility in Palakkad to the new plant of the Kerala Enviro Infrastructure Limited (KEIL) in Ambalamedu in Kochi in view of the chances of a spike in generation of biomedical waste in the State amidst the pandemic crisis. The board chairman A. B Pradeepkumar issued a letter to the Secretary of IMAGE under the State chapter of the Indian Medical Association on Wednesday stating that the Palakkad facility may not be sufficient to manage the entire waste (both COVID and non-COVID) generated in the State. The Secretary of IMAGE had informed the board that it may not be able to collect, transport and dispose of the biomedical waste beyond the permitted capacity of 55 tonnes per day at its facility in Palakkad. The board has issued a letter to the Chief Executive Officer of KEIL to start the operations of its new plant at Ambalamedu in Kochi immediately by using the waste allotted by the government from three districts that include Malappuram, Ernakulam and Pathanamthitta. It can also handle the waste generated in other health care institutions in these districts that had obtained application for affiliation with KEIL.