Based on a report submitted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in the Lok Sabha last month, Maharashtra has the highest generation of bio-medical waste between June 2020 and June 2021 at 8,317 tonnes, stated a report by the Indian Express.
If the said number is compared to that of 2019-20, the figure stood at 62.3 tonnes. The report further elucidated that India produced 56,898.4 tonnes of covid-19 Bio-Medical Waste (BMW) from June 2020 and June 2021.
It is stated that since the number of hospitalizations has increased in some states due to the second wave of coronavirus, the majority of the trash includes PPE kits, masks and gloves.
Maharashtra Pollution Control Board’s (MPCB) official stated that that state’s BMW production is larger than others since it has an enhanced system of waste collection, disposition, and data exchange when compared to others. He cited those sophisticated medical facilities and hospitals in the city result in higher bio-medical waste.
According to the report, information from the Central Pollution Control Board states that the peak in everyday bio-medical waste production was in May in India at nearly, 250 tonnes per day (TPD). Contrasting to the last year, the number was between 180-220 TPD.
Specialists have cautioned of the space between production and disposal of covid-19 waste. They believe that in some cases people get rid of masks in regular dustbins resulting in their amalgamation in municipal waste.
MPCB’s study last year highlighted that the bio-medical waste production of Maharashtra rose by 45%.
Typically, 62.3 tonnes of bio-medical waste procreation occurred daily in 2019-20 which by the end of May last year was 90.6 tonnes. They also stated that there are 31 bio-medical waste treatment and disposal facilities in Maharashtra.
In the city, the solid waste management department gathers covid-19 waste which it then gives to SMS Envoclean Private Limited. They then get rid of it at the Deonar Plant facility which has the potential of 25 metric tonnes daily.
The report goes on to elucidate that with cases in the city, witnessing a downward trend, the covid-19 bio-medical waste production is nearly 18 tonnes every day.
Also Read: Dead Dolphin Washes On Juhu Beach’s Shore