UP has adequate capacity for incineration of Covid waste: State pollution control body

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh is generating 13 metric tonnes of biomedical waste due to Covid-19 every day, which is around half of the total biomedical waste (31mt), generated in the state per day.
The non-covid biomedical waste generated in the state every day is around 18mt.
Till April, the state had generated 31,780kg of Covid-19 waste, given the increase, which has been steady, the state is prepared to handle the waste as per the guidelines.
The state has adequate capacity for incineration of Covid waste even if the waste generation increases by three times, said UPPCB member secretary Ashish Tiwari.
At present, total incineration capacity in 18 Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facilities (CBWTFs) is 52mt per day for 16-hour operation.
The incineration capacity may be increased to 72mt per day by increasing the hours of operation.
In addition, marginal capacity available in hazardous waste incinerators in Kanpur Dehat Remky and Bharat Oil LTD is 50mt per day, said the official.
The state is in a position to further increase the incineration capacity if the need be.
All 18 CBWTFs are registered on Covid-19 BMW mobile app developed by the CPCB and are uploading Covid waste disposal data on a daily basis.
Isolation wards and quarantine homes are also being registered on this app.
The waste is being handled in accordance with the specific guidelines of the Centre for 'handling, treatment and disposal of waste generated during treatment/diagnosis/quarantine of Covid-19 patients' which were revised in April, this year.
The Covid waste collection from isolation ward is strictly monitored. Waste from quarantine homes, which is a solid waste, is being disinfected with hypochlorite solution before collection.
Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) are responsible for collection.