Document Type : ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Authors
Department of Government and Public Administration, School of Liberal and Creative Arts, Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar 144411, Punjab, India
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the disposal practices of residential Bio-Medical Waste and the challenges faced by urban local bodies in managing such waste in Himachal Pradesh, India. With a notable rise in home-based healthcare, especially post-COVID-19, households are generating increasing amounts of waste from activities such as self-medication, chronic illness management, and the use of disposable medical items and personal protective equipment. Despite this trend, most households mix Bio-Medical Waste with general municipal waste due to limited awareness, the absence of segregation systems, and a lack of designated disposal facilities. This poses significant risks to public health, particularly for waste workers and the broader community, and strains municipal waste management infrastructure. Urban authorities, constrained by inadequate policies, insufficient infrastructure, and limited financial and technical capacity, struggle to address this emerging challenge.
METHODS: The study utilized a mixed-methods approach, including household surveys, field observations, and stakeholder interviews across Himachal Pradesh state and the urban local bodies of various districts. In this study, the regression analysis and factor analysis tools are used to achieve the research objectives
FINDINGS: The results revealed that an urgent need for clear policy frameworks, as 72% of ULBs lacked specific guidelines for residential Bio-Medical Waste, and no penalties for improper disposal in 85 percent of cases. Public education, dedicated Bio-Medical Waste collection systems, staggering 68 percent of surveyed households admitted to mixing Bio-Medical Waste with general garbage due to a lack of awareness (42%), absence of dedicated bins (35%), convenience (23%), households found it easier to dispose of Bio-Medical Waste with regular trash and health risks to workers engaged in municipal solid waste management in urban areas, 89% of workers are encountered to Bio-Medical Waste daily, with 62% reporting injuries (needle-sticks, infections), in 28% of cases, no formal training or personal protective equipment was provided, and only 10% of workers are aware of the hazards of Bio-Medical Waste.
CONCLUSION: The research provides valuable insights for policymakers and urban managers to design more resilient and inclusive Bio-Medical Waste management strategies for sustainable urban health governance.
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