Hospital waste is either non-infectious or infectious. The latter, comprising syringes, cotton swabs, bandages, needles, blood bags and dialysers contaminated by human blood or body fluids, are responsible for the spread of diseases like hepatitis, tuberculosis or AIDS.

At present, hospital waste is disposed either by incineration or steaming. ``Treatment of infectious health care articles with high frequency energy makes components like syringes, needles, dialisers and tubings unusable for potential reusers. Disinfected waste can be disposed as ordinary waste,'' said Deepak Bahri, whomade the presentation.

He also claimed that the microwave method of disinfecting involved no risk to hospital personnel. It is also economical in the long run, he said, adding that it costs about Rs 7.50 per bed per day for a private hospital.

However, Bahri admitted that the initial investment was high. The machine costs about Rs 26 lakh minus customs duty, with each container pegged at Rs 4,000. Each hospital bed generates on an average half a kilogram of infectious waste. And at Kasturba hospital, which handles only infectious cases, almost 20 kg of infectious waste is generated daily.

Although the concept evoked the audience's interest, the price factor discouraged many doctors. The BMC, represented by Dr Nira Kewalramani, assistant health officer, said any decision to consider using microwave technology for civic hospitals would have to be a political and administrative one. At present, the BMC is working on a pilot project initiated last February whereby ten civic hospitals collect infectiouswaste and collectively incinerate it at the TB hospital in Sewri.