- Law
- Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 (as amended)
- Authority
- State Pollution Control Board / Pollution Control Committee
- Segregation
- Colour-coded: yellow, red, white (translucent) and blue
- Annual report
- Form IV to the SPCB by 30 June each year
What compliance involves
- Authorisation from your State Pollution Control Board (or Pollution Control Committee in a Union Territory).
- An agreement with a Common Bio-medical Waste Treatment Facility (CBWTF) for collection, transport and treatment — or an approved on-site system.
- Segregation at source in colour-coded, labelled containers.
- Pre-treatment of laboratory and highly infectious waste as the rules require.
- Records — daily waste generated by category, handover to the CBWTF, accidents and training.
- Annual report in Form IV by 30 June.
- Training and immunisation of staff who handle waste.
The colour code
| Container | What goes in |
|---|---|
| Yellow | Anatomical waste, soiled waste (dressings, cotton), expired and discarded medicines, chemical waste, discarded linen |
| Red | Contaminated recyclable plastics — tubing, bottles, IV sets, catheters, urine bags, gloves |
| White (translucent, puncture-proof) | Sharps — needles, syringes with fixed needles, scalpels, blades |
| Blue (cardboard boxes) | Glassware and metallic body implants |
Where facilities slip
- Authorisation expired or issued for a lower bed count than you now run
- Segregation posters on the wall but mixed waste in the bins
- No weighing or handover records reconciled with the CBWTF's
- Annual report missed
- Staff not immunised against hepatitis B or not trained
We set up the system, train the staff who actually handle waste and keep the paperwork aligned with what NABH and inspectors check.
Frequently asked questions
Who needs biomedical waste authorisation?
Every occupier of a healthcare facility that generates biomedical waste — hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, dental clinics, labs, blood centres and veterinary facilities — must obtain authorisation from the State Pollution Control Board under the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016.
What are the biomedical waste colour codes?
Waste is segregated at source into yellow (anatomical waste, soiled waste, expired medicines, chemical waste), red (contaminated recyclable plastic such as tubing, bottles and catheters), white translucent puncture-proof containers (sharps) and blue cardboard boxes (glassware and metallic implants).
When is the biomedical waste annual report due?
Healthcare facilities submit an annual report in Form IV to the State Pollution Control Board by 30 June every year, covering the previous calendar year.
Official sources
Fees and rules change. Always confirm on the official page before you apply.
Get a free gap assessment for your facility
Tell us your facility type, bed or chair count and city. Dr. Ashutosh Sharma will tell you which NABH programme fits, what it will cost and how long it will realistically take — before you commit to anything.
Related
- Fire NOC & fire safetyFire NOC for hospitals, nursing homes and clinics: who issues it, what fire services inspect, NBC Part 4, drills and what NABH checks.
- Clinical establishment registrationClinical establishment registration under CEA 2010 or your state's law: which applies, provisional vs permanent registration, penalties, documents.
- Hospitals above 50 beds (6th Edition)NABH 6th Edition accreditation for hospitals above 50 beds: 10 chapters, 100 standards, 639 objective elements, scoring rules, NABH fees and timeline.