India, Oct. 13 -- The COVID-19 pandemic not only overwhelmed public health systems but also led to an unprecedented increase in biomedical waste (BMW). Items such as personal protective equipment (PPE) kits, syringes, face masks and testing materials created enormous pressure on India's waste management infrastructure.
Despite these challenges, India responded with a combination of timely policies, technology-driven tools, and strong institutional efforts. This article presents an overview of how India managed the biomedical waste surge during the pandemic. It highlights changes in policy, gaps in infrastructure, on-ground challenges, and the adoption of innovative technologies and business models to address the crisis.
Biomedical wast...