Waste Mercury from Hospitals to be Collected by Private Firms

For collection of hazardous mercury waste from the city’s health care facilities, the Delhi Government has identified two private firms. These hospitals are switching over to non-toxic metal based medical equipments. "As majority of hospitals here have been taking various steps to phase out mercury-based equipment from their day-to-day operations, safe disposal of the toxic material is becoming a major head-ache," said a senior official from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). This phase out drive was initiated last year. Since then a total of five kg of mercury had been collected. However the health care facilities were clueless of what to do with it.After this issue was discussed with the manufacturers of thermometers and BP apparatus, two firms namely Supreme Surgico based in Shahdara and Anita Industries situated at Bhagat Singh Market agreed to collect elemental mercury form and also in the form of discarded mercury based apparatus.

For disposal of the stored mercury waste the DPCC has directed hospitals with 50 or more beds to contact the above private units.

Source-Medindia