Currently in India milk processing is more than 30 % of the total milk production. Since long the Indian dairy industries relies on the non-renewable sources of energy, which not only getting more and more expensive but also are responsible to serious health concerns and environmental problems such as global warming. Therefore, adoption of green energies has been promoted by research communities, social and environmental groups and government. Considering the geological location of India, solar energy has been proven most promising among the available green and renewable energies. The requirement of energy intensity and temperature range in milk processing operations are amenable for adoption of solar energy.
In this study, the hospital waste generation rates and compositions in Delhi were examined temporally and spatially during the first COVID-19 wave of April 2020. A total of 11 representative hospitals located in five districts were considered. The pre-COVID hospital waste generation rates were relatively consistent among the districts, ranging from 15 to 23 tonne/ month. It is found that the number of hospital beds per capita may not be a significant factor in the hospital waste quantity. Strong seasonal variations were not observed. All districts experienced a drastic decrease in generation rates during the 1-month lockdown. The average rates during the COVID period ranged from 12 to 24 tonne/month. Bio-contaminated and disposable medical product wastes were the most common waste in Delhi's hospitals, representing 70-80% by weight. The changes in waste composition were however not spatially consistent. The lockdown appeared to have had a higher impact on hospital waste generation rate than on waste composition. The findings are important as the design and operation of a waste management system are sensitive to both waste quantity and quality. Waste records at source helped to minimize waste data uncertainties and allowed a closer examination of generation trends.
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