ABSTRACT
Healthcare is critical to saving lives; however, the biomedical waste (BMW) produced from healthcare operations creates a severe issue for both humans and nature. Adequate handling, treatment, and disposal of BMW are significant elements in the infection control programs of healthcare facilities. Inadequate managing of waste produced in health facilities directly affects public health, healthcare workers, and the environment. Globally, a considerable quantity of potentially hazardous and infectious waste is produced daily in healthcare facilities. Disposing of BMW haphazardly or exposure to this waste endangers human health and the environment and needs unique management before ultimate disposal. It is the responsibility of all people to manage waste disposal regarding good health and a better environment. The various strategies for BMW removal, as per their significant quality, are: predict, diminish, reuse, improve, treat, and ultimately arrange. This chapter presents definitions, types, and issues related to BMW. It examines methods of handling, disposing of, and managing BMW and regulating laws. It also ends with raising awareness among healthcare workers and stipulates that more research is needed given the increased generation of BMW.
