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Kerala Kaumudi Online
Thursday, 28 March 2024 9.07 PM IST

Hospital waste can now be turned into fertilizers for plants, new cost-effective technology discovered

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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: No need to burn hospital waste anymore. Now they can be turned into fertilizers for plants and vegetables. The scientists at the National Institute of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), Pappanamkode, have discovered the technology for that. The technology which will be a model to the world has received three global patents and approval from the National Pollution Control Board.

It is a technique in which hospital waste can be processed on the hospital premises. The main components are a biomedical container, a disinfectant chemical mixture and a chemical powder called a solidifying agent. The patent is for the discovery of all three.

The waste can be collected in two categories first as recyclable metal items like syringes and needles and the next as all other items. The first step is to put it in a biomedical container. Then it will be sprayed with a disinfectant mixture. With that, the odor will be removed and it will become a germ-free object. Solidifying chemical powder should be added to this. Then everything will melt and turn into powder like soil, which is a good fertilizer. It can also be used for land filling.

It has been handed over to Biovastu Solutions Limited, a private start-up company in Angamali, to implement it on an industrial basis under the Central Government's Make in India scheme. They will also provide equipment to hospitals. The composition of the chemical mixture cannot be disclosed due to safety and financial concerns.

Currently, medical waste in the state is collected by the Indian Medical Association, brought to the treatment plant in Malampuzha and treated at high temperatures. It is not only a huge expense but it is also a big challenge to transport highly infectious materials Palakkad by road. There are also complaints that some hospitals and clinics are throwing waste into the sea.

80 tons of medical waste is generated in Kerala every day. A total of 900 tons in the whole country. Rs 321.32 crore is spent per year for waste management. The new method costs much less.

The technology was developed by scientists Dr US Harish, Dr. Rajeev K. Sukumaran, Dr. P. Sujata Devi and Dr. S. Savitri under the guidance of NIIST Pappanamkode senior scientist Dr P Sreejith Sankar and supervision of former director Dr A Ajayaghosh.

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TAGS: HOSPITAL WASTE, FERTILIZERS, PLANTS, COST EFFECTIVE, DISCOVERY, WASTE MANAGEMENT
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