The biomedical waste is the waste that comes from hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, dispensaries, veterinary institutions, animal houses, pathology labs, blood banks etc. which is generated during the diagnosis, treatment or in research activities in the form of animal waste, laboratory waste, human anatomical waste, blood fluids and sharps. Unlike other waste this waste is biohazardous, infectious and pathological in nature, which not only encourages the growth of various pathogens and vectors but also contaminates the non hazardous and non toxic waste, Hence, its handling and disposal becomes an important issue. After the year 1980 the hospital waste was considered as a serious issue, especially HIV and Hepatitis B infected materials which can be a potential risk factor to other patients. This concept of biomedical waste management is new in India; it came into limelight recently after the notification of Bio Medical Waste (BMW) (Management and Handling) Rules 1998. The present paper highlights the various issues concerned with the biomedical waste and the latest updates, with an objective to create awareness regarding the handling and management of biomedical waste among biomedical researchers.

Keywords:biomedical waste, handling and disposal, waste management.