The present study was conducted to determine the existing disposal practices for hospital waste and awareness of hospital staff regarding waste management rules. A sample of 100 respondents was selected proportionately from medicos, paramedics and supporting staff of 10 hospitals comprising government, private and charitable hospitals of two districts of Haryana State. On an average, 1.29 kg of hospital waste per bed per day was generated which consisted of glass bottles, syringes, sharps, soiled plaster, material contaminated with blood and body parts. Majority of the hospitals segregated glass bottles before disposal. 60% of them sold it to junk dealers. None of the hospitals segregated hospital waste in recommended colored polythene bags at source. Two-fifth of private and charitable hospitals burnt medical waste in open plots. Majority of the hospital staff, comprising mainly paramedics and supporting staff, had low awareness level (81%) about hospital waste management rules. Regarding awareness of different symbols, color coding of waste containers and recommended hospital waste management practices, only few of the medicos and paramedics were partially aware whereas supporting staff was totally unaware of it.

Pollution has become a great menace in today's life and it gives a dismal picture of our country. But, nowadays, pollution due to biomedical waste has become an area of serious concern. Everyday, like any other sector, the hospitals and medical laboratories generate thousand tons of waste. Out of the total waste generated by hospitals, half is biomedical waste, contaminated with disease carrying pathogens (Sharma, 1996). Generally, this waste lies in the open which acts as breeding center for disease causing microbes.

Healthcare workers and people associated with handling waste often get needle prick injuries and can get AIDS, Hepatitis through skin, etc. Moreover, it has been found that recycled syringes, bags packed with used surgical cotton keep pouring out of the dirty backyard of hospitals further aggravating this problem (Chaturvedi and Agarwal, 1996).

High infectivity and toxic potentiality of hospital waste has increased public concern about its management in an environmentally sound manner. The government has made certain rules for hospital waste management. But it is necessary to determine how far the staff associated with hospitals is aware of these rules that are for the safe disposal of hospital waste leading to better environment and safety of the living beings.

The present study was conducted in 10 hospitals of Haryana State selected purposively from Hisar and Rohtak districts. One government hospital each from Rohtak and Hisar district, along with two large and two small hospitals each from private and charitable hospitals were taken randomly. A sample of 100 respondents, comprising medicos (29), paramedics (36) and supporting staff (35) taken proportionately from government, private and charitable hospitals, was considered. The data were collected with the help of pretested interview schedule wherein specific information regarding hospital waste management was recorded on three point continuum viz., fully aware, partially aware and not aware by giving the scores as 3, 2 and 1, respectively. Scores were calculated on the basis of weighted mean score and then classified in three categories, viz., low, medium and high awareness levels.

Environmental Sciences Journal, Waste Management Rules, Medical Laboratories, Government Hospitals, Charitable Hospitals, Private Hospitals, Waste Management Practices, Government Rules, Waste Products, Breeding Centers, Hospital Staff.