SINDH HOSPITAL WASTE MANAGEMENT RULES

2014 & SINDH ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

STANDARDS (SEQS)

PRESENTED BY
WAQAR HUSSAIN

SR. DIRECTOR (TECHNICAL), HEADQUARTERS

SINDH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND COASTAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
GOVERNMENT OF SINDH
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CONTENTS OF PRESENTATION
 Overview of SEPA & SEP Act 2014
 Key Data Facts – Hospital Wastes Management
 Legislations
 Sindh Hospital Wastes Management Rules, 2014
 Key Terms
 Classifications/Categorization of Hospital Wastes
 Hospital Waste Management Plan
 Status of Existing/operational and new incinerators in Sindh
 Role of Academic/ Research Institutes
 Sindh Environmental Quality Standards (SEQS) 3
Sindh Environmental Protection Agency

 The Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) was

established in 1989 having its Head Quarters at Karachi.
 Regional Offices are established at Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur
Mirpur khas, Shaheed Benazirabad and Larkana Regions.
Major Function
 Protection, Conservation, Rehabilitation and Improvement of
the Environment, the prevention and control of pollution, and
the promotion of sustainable development through enforcement
of Environmental Laws.

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Overview: Sindh Environmental Protection Act, 2014
 Part I: Definitions
 Part II: The Sindh Environmental Protection Council
 Part III: The Sindh Environmental Protection Agency
 Part IV: Sindh Sustainable Development Fund
 Part V: Prohibitions & Enforcement
 Part VI: Environmental Examinations & Assessments
 Part VII: Environmental Protection Order
 Part VIII: Offenses & Penalties
 Part IX: Environmental Protection Tribunals & Courts
 Part X: Public Participation
Part XI: General
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
RULES & REGULATIONS FRAMED UNDER SEP ACT, 2014

 Environmental Samples Rules, 2014

 Sindh Environmental Quality Standards (Self Monitoring & Reporting By
Industry) Rules, 2014
 Sindh Environmental Quality Standards (Certifications of Environmental
Laboratories) Regulations, 2014
 Sindh Hospital Waste Management Rules, 2014
 Hazardous Substances Rules, 2014
 Sindh Environmental Quality Standards (Effluent, Air emissions, Ambient
Air, Noise, Vehicular Emissions & Drinking Water)
 Sindh Environmental Protection Tribunal, 2014

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RULES & REGULATIONS FRAMED UNDER SEP ACT, 2014

 Sindh Prohibition of Non- degradableable Plastic Products

(Manufacturing, Sale and Usage) Rules, 2014
 Sind Environmental Protection Agency (Review of Initial
Environmental Examinations and Environmental Impact
Assessment) Regulations, 2014
 Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Strategic Environment
Assessment) Rules, 2015
 Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Environmental
Assessment) Regulations, 2021
 Sindh Sustainable Development Fund (Procedure & Utilization)
Rules, 2014
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KEY BASELINE / DATA FACTS

NOTE: Hazardous waste means hospital (medical) waste

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DATA FACTS Cont..
• About 85% of the hospital wastes is general wastes while
remaining 15% is infectious, toxic or radioactive.
• 16 billion injections are administered annually worldwide
• Open burning and incineration of health care wastes can result in
the emissions of dioxins, furans and particulate matter.
• World wide 8-16 million patients get infected of Hep B
• World wide 2.3 to 4.7 million patients of Hep C
• 80,000 to 160,000 of HIV infection occurs due to re-use of non-
sterilized needles
Source: World Health Organization (WHO), 2018 9
DATA FACTS Cont…

Common Techniques Used for Disposal of

Hospital Waste:

 Incineration.
 Steam Autoclave Disinfection.
 Microwave Disinfection.
 Mechanical / Chemical Disinfection.

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LEGISLATIONS
Section 14 (2) of Sindh Environmental Protection Act,
2014 is reproduced as under:

“ No person shall generate, handle, transport, dispose of

or handle the hospital wastes and infections waste
except in accordance with the Hospital Waste
Management Rules and in such manner as may be
prescribed ”

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SINDH HOSPITAL WASTES MANAGEMENT RULE, 2014

In exercise of the power conferred by section 36

of the Sindh Environmental Protection Act, 2014
(VIII of 2014), the Environmental Protection
Agency with the approval of the Government of
Sindh, made the rules called as
“Sindh Hospital Wastes Management Rules, 2014”

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KEY TERMS
HOSPITAL
Clinic, laboratory, dispensary, pharmacy, nursing home, health unit,
maternity center, blood bank, autopsy center, mortuary, research institute
and veterinary institutions, hospital waste facility and any facility involved
in healthcare & bio-medical activities.
HOSPITAL WASTE
Any waste generated during the diagnosis, treatment or immunization of
human beings or animals or in research activities or in the cleaning of
medical equipment, supplies and accessories.

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 KEY TERMS

HOSPITAL WASTE FACILITY

Incineration, shredding, autoclaving, destruction, chemical,
suitable thermal, irradiation, filtration, microwaving,
encapsulation or other treatment method.
WASTE MANAGEMENT
Waste segregation, waste collection, waste transportation, waste
storage, waste treatment, waste disposal and waste minimization.

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RESPONSIBILITY FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT

Every hospital owner, occupier, operator shall be

responsible for the management of the hospital
waste generated by it till its final disposal in
accordance with the provision of the Act and these
rules.

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CLASSIFICATION OF HOSPITAL WASTES Infectious
Waste

Chemical Waste

Genotoxic
Waste
Pathological
Risk Waste Waste
Hospital Radioactive
Waste Non-risk
Waste
Waste
Pharmaceutical
waste

Sharps
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Sr. Type of Waste Details
1. Infectious Waste waste contaminated with blood and other bodily fluids, cultures and stocks
of infectious agents, or waste from patients with infections

2. Pathological Waste human tissues, organs or fluids, body parts and contaminated animal
carcasses;
3. Sharp Wastes syringes, needles, disposable scalpels and blades, etc.
4. Chemical Waste solvents and reagents used for laboratory preparations, disinfectants,
sterilants and heavy metals contained in medical devices

5. Pharmaceutical expired, unused and contaminated drugs and vaccines;

Wastes
6. Cytotoxic Wastes waste containing substances with genotoxic properties (i.e. highly hazardous
substances that are, mutagenic, teratogenic or carcinogenic), such as
cytotoxic drugs used in cancer treatment and their metabolites;

7. Radioactive Waste products contaminated by radionuclides including radioactive diagnostic

material or radiotherapeutic materials.

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HOSPITAL WASTE MANAGEMENT (HWM) PLAN
Hospital Waste Management Plan shall be based on internationally or
nationally recognized environmental management practices, standards,
which shall efficiently and effectively address the hospital waste. The
Hospital Waste Management Plan shall include:
 (a) waste management points for every ward and department,
indicating each point, location on the basis of risk assessment;
 (b) the categories of waste being generated in accordance with
Schedule-I
 (c) quantity of each waste category;
 (d) details of the types, numbers of containers, waste bags and trolley
required annually;

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HOSPITAL WASTE MANAGEMENT (HWM) PLAN

 (e) schedule and frequency of waste collection from each ward and
department;
 (f) effective arrangements for onsite and off-site transportation of
waste as provided in Schedule-I and II;
 (g) contingency plans for storage or disposal of risk waste in the event
of breakdowns of hospital waste facility, or of maintenance or
collection arrangements;
 (h) training courses and programs on waste management;
 The Waste Management Plan shall be regularly monitored, reviewed,
revised and updated and submitted to the Agency on annual basis.

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 WASTE SEGREGATION
Risk waste shall be separated from non-risk waste at the point
where the waste is generated by a doctor, nurse, or other
person as per Hospital Waste Management Plan and Schedule-I.
 WASTE COLLECTION
Waste shall be collected in accordance with the Schedule-I and
II.
 WASTE STORAGE
A separate central storage facility shall be established within
the Hospital with the details provided in Hospital Waste
Management Plan

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 WASTE TREATMENT
 After recognizing the type and nature of waste, risk waste shall be inactivated
or rendered safe before its final disposal by a suitable thermal, chemical,
irradiation incineration, filtration or other treatment method, or by a
combination of such prescribed and effective methods guided by validated and
monitoring procedures.
 WASTE DISPOSAL
 Risk waste shall be disposed off in accordance with the procedure provided in
Schedule I.
 The operator, occupier, and owner of the Hospital waste disposal and treatment
facility shall obtain approval from the Agency under section 17.
 ACCIDENTS AND SPILLAGES
 In case of accidents or spillages, the emergency procedures mentioned in the
Hospital Waste Management Plan shall be implemented immediately and the
same shall be reported to the Agency.
 MAINTENANCE OF RECORD, IMMUNIZATION & INSPECTION
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Sindh Hospital Wastes Management Rules, 2014

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Pathological Waste

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Sindh Hospital Wastes Management Rule, 2014

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INFECTIOUS WASTE

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Sindh Hospital Wastes Management Rules, 2014

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Sharp Waste
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Sindh Hospital Wastes Management Rule, 2014

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PHARMACEUTICAL WASTE

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Sindh Hospital Wastes Management Rules, 2014

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Sindh Hospital Wastes Management Rules, 2014

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Discarded Batteries Broken Thermometer

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Sindh Hospital Wastes Management Rules, 2014

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RADIOACTIVE WASTE

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Sindh Hospital Wastes Management Rules, 2014

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Paper & Cardboards

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Incineration Ash

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Sindh Hospital Wastes Management Rules, 2014

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 INCINERATORS OPERATIONAL IN SINDH

INCINERATOR DESIGN
SR PROPONENT LOCATION
CAPACITY (KG/HR.)
1. GSES Pvt. Ltd 500 Karachi
2. Sterling Pvt. Ltd 400 Karachi
3. United Wastes Management - Karachi
4. City Wastes Incineration 500 Karachi
5. Geo Links 500x2 Karachi
6. GEL Pvt Ltd - Karachi
7. KMC (2 Nos.) - Karachi

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NEW INCINERATORS TO BE INSTALLED IN SINDH

INCINERATOR DESIGN
SR PROPONENT LOCATION YEAR STATUS
CAPACITY (KG/HR.)

1. Zephyr Wastes Solution 500 Karachi 2023 In progress

2. Eco Green Wastes Mngm 500x2 Karachi 2023 In progress

3. M. Hashims & Sons 150 Karachi 2022 In progress

4. Eco Care Wastes Management - Karachi 2022 In progress

5. Indus Waste Incineration - Jamshoro - In progress

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VIEW OF SOME EXISTING INCINERATORS IN KARACHI
KMC Incineration Plant, Karachi

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GEL’s 1st commercial Incinerator

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INCINERATOR AT CREEK GENERAL INCINERATOR AT KOOHI GOTH HOSPITAL
HOSPITAL

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Challenges Faced by Enforcing & Implementing Agencies
 Lack of awareness and compliance: Several hospitals in Sindh, are not fully aware of
the HWM Rules, 2014, and have not established proper waste management systems,
leading to non-compliance.
 Training and capacity building: is a major challenge and hospital staff require specific
training for proper waste segregation and disposal techniques and also require ongoing
efforts to build capacity and awareness among healthcare workers.
 Inadequate Data Collection / Database: Proper data collection by SEPA’s
representatives from the hospitals about waste generation, composition, disposal etc. is a
major issue (we can imagine data analysis..?)
 Inadequate/ Poor Waste Segregation: Healthcare waste segregation is very poor in most
of the hospitals except some well reputed Healthcare units.
 Limited enforcement and monitoring: SEPA face challenges in effectively monitoring
and enforcing compliance with the rules across all healthcare facilities due to resource
limitations and bureaucratic hurdles.
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Challenges Contd…
 Informal Waste Disposal: In some cases, hospitals may resort to informal
waste disposal methods, such as dumping or burning waste in open areas, due
to a lack of alternatives or awareness, contributing to environmental pollution.

 Hurdles in Operation of Incineration Plant: The most common hurdle

besides lack of technical capacity/ trained staff is non availability of fuel (gas
supply/ connection) in all Public sector hospitals.

 Coordination and Collaboration: Coordinating efforts between different

government agencies, hospitals, and waste disposal service providers can be
complex and may hinder the effective implementation of waste management
rules.
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Role of Academic/ Research Institutes (A/RI)
 Research and Innovation in Sindh
 Identify better waste management practices, technologies, and solutions
 Develop efficient waste segregation techniques, medical waste treatment &
disposal methods for the hazardous medical waste in Sindh.
 Technology Development in Sindh province
 Develop alternatives and appropriate innovative technologies for safe waste
disposal in the province.
 Advancements in waste treatment processes (sterilization, incineration,
autoclaving, or chemical treatments to reduce the volume and toxicity of
waste).

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Role of Academic/ Research Institutes (A/RI)
 Training and Education
 educating healthcare professionals, waste management personnel, and
policymakers about the proper handling and disposal of hospital waste.
 Providing training on waste segregation, collection, transportation,
treatment etc. A/R Is may contribute to building the capacity of waste
management personnel
 Public Awareness in Sindh
 Raise awareness among staff, patients and the general public about the
importance of proper waste management.
 Promoting responsible waste disposal behaviors (my wastes, my
responsibility).
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Role of Academic/ Research Institutes (A/RI)
 Data Collection and Analysis
 Collect data on hospital waste generation, composition, and disposal
practices in Sindh.
 Analyzing the data to help in understanding the trends, identifying areas of
concern and formulating effective waste management strategies.
 Evaluation of Environmental Impact in Sindh
 Assess the environmental impact of hospital waste disposal methods
 Conduct research on the adoption of more sustainable practices.
 Continuous Improvement across Sindh Province
 Assess the effectiveness of waste management practices and technologies,
suggesting improvements based on emerging research findings in Sindh
province
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 PART 2

SINDH ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

STANDARDS (SEQS)

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SINDH ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY STANDARDS (SEQS)

 Ambient Air Quality Standards

 Vehicular Emissions Standards
 Noise Level Standards
 Industrial Wastewater (Effluent) Standards
 Drinking Water Standards
 Industrial Emissions Standards

NOTE: All SEQS are available on SEPA official Website https://epa.sindh.gov.pk

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AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS

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AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS

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VEHICULAR EMISSIONS STANDARDS

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NOISE LEVEL STANDARDS

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INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER (EFFLUENT) STANDARDS

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INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER (EFFLUENT) STANDARDS

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DRINKING WATER STANDARDS

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DRINKING WATER STANDARDS

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Industrial Emissions Standard

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Industrial Emissions Standard

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