Table 2.
Comparison of country or state or organization specific international guidelines with CPCB guidelines, 2020 as amended.
| Country/organisation | Covid-19 waste category and management | References |
|---|---|---|
| WHO | All COVID-19 waste should be collected in designated COVID-19 waste containers and preferably treated onsite. When on-site treatment, option is not available offsite transport can be done under strict supervision. Hand hygiene is must after handling COVID-19 waste [27]. | 17 |
| US (OSHA) | OSHA guidelines state that COVID19 waste possess no extra threat and should be handled as any biomedical waste. SARS CoV-2 contaminated general municipality waste also should be treated as non-contaminated general waste. PPE, gloves, masks must be worn all time while handling COVID-19 waste. [43] | 28 |
| EU | Masks worn by COVID-19 confirmed orsuspected cases should be collected separately from the care takers and family members in paper bags. These bags can be handed over to the professional COVID-19 waste handling facilities through designated COVID-19 waste collectors. [44] | 29 |
| Italy | Italian authorities divided waste into T1 and T2. Waste collected from homes with COVID-19 patients is classified as T1 and is considered infectious. Waste from all other homes without any COVID-19 patient, are under T2 category. T1 waste should be collected in double layered and requires no at source separation. No elderly person should be employed in handling of T1 waste. T2 waste can be collected and treated as per normal municipality waste. [ | 30 |
| Centre for Disease Control (CDC) | Waste generated during COVID-19 patient management is no different than waste generated by any other patient treatment. They are not considered category A waste should be treated as regulated medical waste (RMW). | 27 |
| Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)[31] | As per CDC guidelines TCEQ had categorised COVID-19 waste as RMW. With all safety precaution COVID-19 waste should be treated as RMW and hand hygiene to be performed after handling. | 31 |
| California Department of Public Health (CDPH)[32] | Medical Waste Management Program (MWMP) had categorised COVID-19 waste as RMW (as per CDC). No extra steps required for COVID-19 waste handling. | 32 |
| CPCB (India) | A double-layered bag (2 bags) should be used for the collection of waste from COVID-19 isolation wards to ensure adequate strength and no leaks. Prior to handling over to Common Bio-medical Waste Treatment Facility (CBWTF), Collect and store biomedical waste separately. There should be a separate record of waste generated from COVID-19 isolation wards. The waste collection bags, bins, trolleys should be marked as ‘COVID-19 waste’. The labeling is to ensure the priority treatment and disposal immediately upon receipt at CBWTF. Only laboratory waste is to be pretreated on site, rest waste is treated at CBWTF level. | 4 |