From Vision to Action: Building Thane’s First Biomedical Waste Facility

With TMC land, IIT-Bombay guidance, and a mix of savings and loans, we built a biomedical waste facility.

In an earlier article, I reviewed hospital technologies for managing biomedical waste, from microwaves to autoclaves, and their challenges in India. Furthermore, I highlighted how the shift focused on innovative developments and inspiring success stories within the country. From the Make in India–driven Srjanam automated biomedical waste treatment plant at AIIMS, New Delhi, to the grassroots, community-led efforts of Thane’s Enviro-Vigil NGO, these initiatives showcase both cutting-edge technology and sustained local action that are shaping the future of sustainable biomedical waste management in India.

While these innovations highlighted what was possible at a national and institutional level, our own journey in Thane began much closer to home. With limited experience but a strong resolve, we decided to take on the challenge of creating a functional biomedical waste facility ourselves.

Given our non-technical backgrounds, we were naturally a little apprehensive at first, but we decided to take the plunge and give it a try. A few pharmaceutical companies already had incinerators, and a couple of scientist friends introduced us to the machines. We also sought guidance from experts at IIT-Bombay to learn and adopt the technology. After several rounds of discussions, deliberations, and careful consideration, we finally decided to accept the challenge and move forward.

The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) provided the required land within the premises of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa. When we visited for the first time, the site was completely covered with construction and demolition debris collected from across the city. Our initial task was to clear the debris and level the land to make it suitable and safe for our operations. We rolled up our sleeves and started working on it.

Another significant hurdle was raising sufficient funds. This was necessary not only to acquire the incinerator, autoclave, and other machines. We would also have to develop the necessary infrastructure, including a storehouse, office space, and a large room to house the incinerator. The total budget at that time was around sixty lakh rupees. We contributed a portion from our personal savings and secured a loan from a local bank to cover the remaining amount.

The next step was to complete all legal formalities and obtain authorisation from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). Eventually, after clearing the debris, constructing the infrastructure, procuring the equipment, and installing everything in accordance with standard norms and specifications, the facility was fully operational.

In the meantime, we organised a seminar for doctors and hospital staff in collaboration with the Indian Medical Association, Thane chapter, to provide detailed information about the common biomedical waste facility we were setting up and to address any questions or concerns they had. In addition, we developed a comprehensive training programme for nurses and housekeeping staff across the hospitals to help them understand the provisions of the 1998 biomedical waste rules and to clarify the responsibilities of each employee, especially regarding proper waste segregation. We began conducting these training sessions in every hospital using slideshows and posters, even before the incinerator and other equipment were installed.

Beyond these internal initiatives, we also created awareness posters featuring appeals from eminent Marathi film and theatre actors such as D. Girish Oak, Suhastai Joshi, and Sarika Nawathe. The posters showed the actors urging the general public to consider whether they were aware of biomedical waste, followed by the message: “Ask your doctor whether they are segregating their waste.” This initiative aimed to educate ordinary citizens about a completely new category of waste, something no other operational facility in India had attempted at the time.

We officially began collecting and treating waste in March 2003, and the facility was formally inaugurated by Shri Ram Naik, then Petroleum Minister, Government of India. By that time, we had also started enrolling clinics and hospitals to connect with our facility in compliance with the rules, ensuring a structured and law-abiding system for biomedical waste management.

Curious to know what happens next? Stay tuned for next week’s continuation, and have a fantastic weekend!

(The author is an environmentalist. Views Personal.)