At All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Union Minister for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh launched the first experimental prototype of an automated biomedical waste conversion rig that can disinfect pathogenic biomedical waste such as blood, urine, sputum, and laboratory disposables and convert them into soil additives.
The rig named “Sṛjanam,” was developed by the National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram. It replaces costly and energy-intensive incinerators, besides imparting a pleasant fragrance to these foul-smelling toxic waste.
The prototype equipment, with a daily capacity of 400 kg, can handle 10 kg of degradable medical waste per day in the initial phase. The technology, once validated, will be ready for full-scale implementation after securing approval from competent authorities.
Formally commissioning the rig at the AIIMS campus, Dr Singh said that the amount of biomedical waste produced in the country is increasing. In 2021-22, biomedical waste generated was 700 tonnes per day. It went up to 743 tonnes per day within a year.
In this context, he said, quoting WHO statistics, the amount of daily pathogenic biomedical waste generation is 0.5 – 0.75 kg per bed in hospitals in the country. All of this is infectious and the nursing staff are getting maximum exposure to it.
Dr Singh added that all the decisions of the present government are technology-driven. This was evident from the first 100-day programme of the present government. He expressed that India is transforming into one of the biggest economic powers of the world and therefore, we need to have an effective system in matters like waste disposal.
The function was attended by Tanmay Kumar, Secretary, MoEFCC; Dr N Kalaiselvi, Secretary, DSIR & DG, CSI; Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, DHR & DG, ICMR; Dr V K Paul, Member, NITI Aayog; Dr M Srinivas, Director, AIIMS New Delhi and Dr C. Anandharamakrishnan, Director, CSIR-NIIST.
Dr Kalaiselvi said this is the latest among projects under the “waste to wealth” mission of the government. The equipment can convert 10 kg bio-waste into bio-manure in 30 minutes without any harmful effect on water, air and soil.
Dr C Anandharamakrishnan, Director, CSIR-NIIST, proposed a vote of thanks. “With its potential to transform treated waste into value-added soil additives with minimal human intervention, our technology provides a safer solution for healthcare facilities, avoids the risk of spills and occupational exposure, and assists in preventing the uncontrolled spread of infectious microbes,” said Dr C Anandharamakrishnan.