Table 1.

Comparison of the national legislation and guidelines for on-site MW separation

Colour code	Medical waste (Management and Processing) Rules, 2008 [47]			National guideline for health care provider on infection prevention and control of Covid-19 pandemic in healthcare setting, 2020 [37]			Guideline or standard operating procedure (SOP) for coronavirus (Covid-19) related waste management in hospital, 2020 [61]
	Waste category	Type of waste	Type of Bin	Waste category	Type of waste	Type of Bin	Waste category	Type of waste	Type of Bin
Black	General	Non-harmful, non-infectious, germfree	Perforated plastic bin	–	General: Leftover meals, administrative rubbish, and paper, sweeping	Two-layered biohazard bag or waste bag in the perforated bin. When a two-thirds portion of the bag would be filled up, it should be tied up appropriately and kept in a separate covered coloured labeled perforated bin	–	–	–
Yellow	Harmful	Anatomical, pathological, infectious	Perforated plastic bin	–	Clinical lab waste without a sharp object: Materials used in lab /patient care		–	–	–
Red	Sharp	Infected, non-infected, bacterial, disinfected	Perforated thick plastic bin, box	–	Clinical waste with a sharp object: Needles or scalpel blades, knives broken glass material, etc.		–	Contaminated sharp waste	Two-layered biohazard bag or waste bag in the perforated bin. When a three-fourth portion of the bag would be filled up, it should be tied up appropriately and kept in a separate covered coloured labeled perforated bin
Blue	Liquid	Harmful, non-harmful, infected, non-infected, bacterial, disinfected, chemical	Perforated plastic bowl, bin	–	Liquid: Vomiting, blood		–	Liquid waste	–
Silver	Radioactive	Radioactive	Perforated lid box	–	–		–	–	–
Green	Reusable	Non-harmful, non-infected, non-infected	Perforated plastic bin	–	Recyclable: Saline kits		–	–	–