Question

Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): Between 75 to 90% of the waste produced by the health providers is non-risk or general waste, comparable to domestic waste.
Reason (R): It comes mostly from administrative and housekeeping functions of healthcare establishment where large amount of general waste is generated.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

• A. Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
• B. Both (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
• C. (A) is correct but (R) is not correct
• D. (A) is not correct but (R) is correct

Hint:

Most healthcare waste is general non-hazardous waste generated from administrative and housekeeping activities.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Concept: Healthcare waste consists of both hazardous and non-hazardous waste. According to biomedical waste management guidelines:
• About 75--90% of healthcare waste is general non-risk waste.
• Only a smaller proportion is infectious or hazardous. Most of the non-risk waste originates from:
• Administrative activities
• Housekeeping services
• Packaging materials
• Food waste Such waste is comparable to ordinary domestic waste.

Step 1: Analyze Assertion (A).
The statement that 75--90% of healthcare waste is non-risk or general waste is scientifically correct.
Hence, Assertion (A) is correct.

Step 2: Analyze Reason (R).
Administrative and housekeeping sections of healthcare facilities generate large quantities of ordinary non-hazardous waste.
Hence, Reason (R) is also correct.

Step 3: Check whether Reason explains Assertion.
The reason correctly explains why a major portion of healthcare waste is categorized as general non-risk waste because it originates mainly from non-clinical activities. Therefore, Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A). Hence, the correct answer is: \[ \boxed{(A)\ \text{Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)}} \]