Sharp waste is disposed in?

Correct Answer: B. White bag

Sharp waste—including needles, scalpels, broken glass, and other items that can cause cuts or punctures—must be segregated and disposed of according to Biomedical Waste Management Rules (BMWM Rules, 2016, as amended). In India, the colour-coded bin system mandates that sharp waste is disposed in WHITE bags/containers. White bags are specifically designated for non-hazardous, non-infectious waste that includes sharps. These containers are typically rigid, puncture-proof, and leak-proof to prevent injury during handling and transport. The white bag system ensures that sharps are segregated at the point of generation (ward, OT, lab), reducing occupational exposure to healthcare workers and sanitation staff. This segregation is critical because sharps pose an immediate injury risk and potential bloodborne pathogen transmission. The white bag waste is then sent for final disposal (incineration or deep burial in rural settings) as per BMWM Rules. Proper segregation at source is the cornerstone of biomedical waste management in Indian healthcare facilities.

Why the other options are wrong

A. Red bag — Red bags are designated for infectious/hazardous waste (contaminated items, pathological waste, soiled dressings, blood-stained materials). While sharps may sometimes be contaminated, they are NOT disposed in red bags because red bags are for bulk infectious waste, not puncture-prone items. Sharps require rigid, puncture-proof containers (white bags) to prevent worker injury during red bag handling. C. Blue bag — Blue bags are designated for pharmaceutical waste and chemical waste (expired medicines, contaminated drugs, chemical bottles). Sharps are not pharmaceutical or chemical waste and have no place in blue bag segregation. This is a common NBE trap pairing colour codes with wrong waste categories. D. Yellow bag — Yellow bags are designated for pathological waste and animal waste (human tissues, organs, body parts, pathology specimens). Although sharps may be contaminated with blood or tissue, they are segregated separately in white bags because their puncture-prone nature requires rigid, puncture-proof containers—a safety requirement that yellow bags do not meet.

High-Yield Facts

Mnemonics

RBBY Colour Code (Indian BMWM) Red = infectious/hazardous; Blue = pharmaceutical/chemical; Black = general non-hazardous; Yellow = pathological. White = Sharps (rigid containers, not a bag in the traditional sense). Sharp = White (Safety Rule) Sharp waste → White bag because white containers are rigid and puncture-proof, protecting workers. Remember: sharps need strength (rigid) and safety (puncture-proof)—only white meets this.

NBE Trap

NBE commonly pairs sharp waste with red or yellow bags because these colours are associated with "hazardous" or "contaminated" waste. Students confuse the hazard level (sharps ARE hazardous) with the segregation category (sharps go in WHITE because of their physical puncture risk, not their infectious status).

Clinical Pearl

In Indian hospitals, the white bag system for sharps is enforced at the bedside—nurses and doctors must place needles, scalpels, and broken glass directly into rigid white containers at the point of use. This prevents needle-stick injuries (NSI) in healthcare workers, a major occupational health concern in India, and reduces transmission of bloodborne pathogens like HIV and HBV in resource-limited settings.

_Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine (Biomedical Waste Management section); Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016 (Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, India)_