Improper disposal of biomedical waste puts residents at risk on Halls Road

While the improper disposal of domestic waste remains a common civic problem across the city, the biomedical waste from a hospital is also dumped along with garbage causing health concerns for the residents on Halls Road in Egmore, say residents. The locality also lacks adequate number of dustbins and a large quantity of garbage lies littered on the road.

“The biomedical waste from the nearby hospital is usually dumped in the dustbins meant for domestic waste. There is a garbage collection unit adjacent to the hospital building. But, we often see the hospital staff dropping bags of waste in the dustbins,” said R Lokesh, a shopkeeper in the locality.

There are two garbage bins kept on the main road filled with waste and a few empty bins lying unused on the footpath alongside. “The authorities say that unused dustbins are owned some private organisation. So, these dustbins cannot be used by the general public. We have demanded to place additional bins in the locality several times. But, the Corporation have not heeded to our request,” said Gokul Krishnan, a resident of the locality.

The improper garbage disposal not only makes the area filthy but also increases the risk of infections and mosquito-borne diseases. The biomedical waste can contain toxic materials andcan even harm the conservancy workers who clear the waste,said residents.

The piled-up garbage also attracts stray cattle apart from being an eyesore. This is continuing despite our repeated appeals to the authorities to take steps to solve the problem. The waste can be infectious. The authorities should ensure that the waste from the hospital not dumped in the garbage bins and also place more bins, said Revathi, a resident of the locality.

When inquired with the conservancy staff of the hospital about dumping biomedical waste along with the domestic waste, they denied it. “It is only food waste that is dumped in the common garbage bin. The biomedical waste is disposed separately after it is segregated in a collection unit,” said a hospital worker.

When contacted the civic authorities about the same, the official said that they have not received any complaints regarding the disposal of biomedical waste along with the domestic waste in the locality. “The biomedical waste is usually managed by the hospital. If there is a demand of more dustbins, we will arrange it,” said the official.