Which of the following biomedical wastes should be discarded in yellow colour waste bin? 1. Human anatomical waste 2. Urobag 3. Needles 4. Soiled plaster casts 5. Glass slides

Appeared in: ESIC Nursing Officer-7July 2024

Explanation

According to the Biomedical Waste Management (BMW) Rules, 2016, the yellow bin is designated for specific categories of waste that require incineration or deep burial.
Human anatomical waste, such as tissues, organs, and body parts, is always placed in the yellow bin.
Soiled waste, which includes items contaminated with blood or body fluids like dressings and plaster casts, is also discarded in the yellow bin.
Therefore, the combination of human anatomical waste (1) and soiled plaster casts (4) is the correct choice for disposal in a yellow bin.

Option A: This option is incorrect because Urobags (urine bags) are made of plastic and are considered contaminated recyclable waste. They should be discarded in a red-colored bin for disinfection and recycling, not a yellow bin.
Option C: This option is incorrect. Urobags belong in the red bin, and needles (sharps) must be discarded in a white, puncture-proof container to prevent injuries.
Option D: This option is incorrect. Needles are sharps and go into a white container. Glass slides are glassware and are collected in a blue box/container.

Visual 1: Infographic: A chart showing the four main color-coded bins (Yellow, Red, White, Blue) with clear images and lists of the types of waste that belong in each. This helps in quick recall and visual association.
Visual 2: Flowchart: A diagram illustrating the process of waste segregation from the point of generation (e.g., patient's bedside) to the final disposal, highlighting the nurse's role at each step.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Biomedical Waste Management (BMW) color-coding guidelines as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Proper waste segregation is a fundamental responsibility of a nurse to prevent nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections and protect healthcare workers, patients, and the community from hazardous materials.
Failure to comply with BMW rules can lead to needlestick injuries, spread of diseases like HIV and Hepatitis, and legal penalties for the healthcare facility.
What if? If a cytotoxic drug vial (glass) was used, it would NOT go into the blue bin with other glassware. Due to its cytotoxic contamination, it must be disposed of in the yellow bin for incineration at high temperatures.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key requirement of the question, which is to find the items that go into the 'yellow colour waste bin'.
Go through the list of five items one by one.
For each item, recall the specific category of biomedical waste it belongs to (e.g., anatomical, sharp, plastic, soiled, glassware).
Mentally match each category to its designated color code based on the BMW guidelines (Yellow, Red, White, or Blue).
Identify the two items from the list that correctly fall into the 'Yellow' category.
Finally, select the option that contains the numbers corresponding to those two items.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full ESIC Nursing Officer-7July 2024

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.