“LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR BIOMEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA :GAPS AND CHALLENGES”

AUTHOR – ADV ARPITA ANIL PITALE, LLM STUDENT DES NAVALMAL FIRODIA LAW COLLEGE PUNE

BEST CITATION – ADV ARPITA ANIL PITALE, “LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR BIOMEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA :GAPS AND CHALLENGES”, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (12) OF 2025, PG. 140-148, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

ABSRACT

Biomedical waste is one of the most rapidly expanding public and environmental health threats. In India, the Biomedical Waste Management Rules of 2016 came into being to govern the management of such waste by hospitals and clinics. But on the ground, the system has serious lacunas—insufficient segregation, no proper disposal facilities in place, lax enforcement, and insufficient awareness among healthcare professionals. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed these deficiencies further because the increased medical waste overpowered the existing infrastructure. This article discusses the legal regime for biomedical waste management in India, maps out the key challenges in its enforcement, and compares Indian practice with international standards. It contends that while the law on paper is robust, its effectiveness is diminished by weak implementation and narrow accountability. The article proposes practical reform, enhanced monitoring, and green practices to make biomed waste management both legally effective as well as environmentally safe.

KEY WORDS :- Biomedical Waste Management, Environmental Law, Public Health OF India, Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016, Legal Framework, COVID-19 Pandemic, Compliance and Enforcement, Sustainable Waste Practices