Question

Biomedical waste may be disposed of by
A) Incineration
B) Autoclaving
C) Land filling
D) Both B and C

Answer 1

Biomedical waste is the waste which is infectious in nature. These include waste from hospitals, labs. This waste includes used bandages, syringes. This waste can be both solid and liquid.

Complete Answer:
To answer this question, we must know about the biomedical waste and the process by which it can be potentially discarded.
Any kind of infectious wastes which include discarded blood, microbiological cultures, body parts, bandages and dressings, medical supplies etc are considered as biomedical wastes.
Sources of Biomedical waste-
This waste can be generated from biological and medical sources or activities. Hospitals, health clinics, morgue, clinical labs, animal hospitals etc produce huge amounts of biowaste.

Methods of disposal-

Incineration- It is the method of waste disposal in which the waste is treated thermally. It involves combustion of the waste. It converts the waste into ash, flue gas. The biomedical hazardous wastes are treated by this method.
Autoclaving- The autoclave are the special machines which use high temperature and pressure for sterilisation. The reusable tools like test tubes, gloves etc are sterilised by autoclave and used.
Land-filling they are the sites for waste disposal. The digestion of waste takes place by microbes which eventually convert it into compost and yield biogas. The biomedical wastes are not disposed of by this method as the waste in the landfill is eaten up by animals and it can enter their food chain.

The correct answer is (A). Biomedical waste is disposed of by the process of incineration.

Note: Biomedical waste is not like normal trash or general waste. It is very hazardous to the environment as it may contain radioactive materials or microbe rich wastes. Some of the bio-wastes are discarded after treating them with formalin.