Our own wrong habits make authorities to bring out various laws and rules which then force us to abide them, hence the book attempts to emphasize and to enhance the competency of the professionals by having proper knowledge about hospital waste and hazards associated with it.

Any waste, whatever it may be, should not be handled indiscriminately because it may lead patients as well as health care workers to catastrophic situation culminating to fatal infections. The situation further gets more difficult if negligence is done in treatment, reporting and preventing further occurrence.

I have tried to simplify the subject by presenting each topic in short answers form so that each question is well understood. I also tried to give line diagrams of complex processes and machines, thus making them easy to understand. However, it does not resist the reader to the classical reading scheme as one does not necessarily have to begin from first page and run through to the end. Attempts have been made to make every chapter complete in itself, therefore, it is possible to pick out single chapter without losing the track.

I like to thank my family members who every time supported me.

I also express my deepest thanks to Dr Chandrahas Kulkarni who showed undoubted faith in my capabilities and this book is the result of that faith.

My wife Dr Rashmi deserves special complements for giving me moral support. My sincere thanks to Mr Mohammad Zuber for giving his time in bringing out the manuscript of the book.

Last but not the least I would like to thanks M/s Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd, New Delhi, for publishing and printing of this book.

Hospital generated waste is disposed off illegally into the Municipal garbage and drainage system.

In developing countries very frequently the Municipal workers get pricking injuries from needles, sharps and broken glass pieces. The other infectious waste which creates complex environmental problem is radioactive waste which has prolonged half-life and needs very sophisticated and appropriate system for ultimate disposal.

Though the use of disposal items have reduced the rate of infection but at the same time has increased the volume of the waste which needs to be disposed properly.

Because of the concerns shown by National and International agencies the notification of the Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998 was brought out by Union Ministry of Environment and Forests under the provision of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Under these rules, all health care institutions are found to make necessary arrangements for proper handling and management of waste, failing of which, the head of the institution is liable for punishment.

Effective waste disposal can be achieved only by considering the various components of the waste management system and this should be made integral part of the hospital planning and designing of the hospital.