COVID-19 pandemic and waste management

Unfortunately, After radiation waste, healthcare waste is considered the second most hazardous waste globally.  The solid waste generated by COVID- 19 positive patients and the doctors and nurses who treat them should be considered infectious waste

The situation necessitates installation of appropriate collection mechanisms for infectious waste, with trained workers using special containers (marked, lined, and sharp-safe boxes), and subsequent in situ treatment prior to any movement. techniques such as using disinfectant and storing the waste for nine days have been employed in order to disinfect waste

This could reduce the risk of further infection from COVID-19. The solid waste generated from the waiting areas of healthcare facilities should be considered non-hazardous waste and kept in prescribed bags or containers, sealed before movement, and disposed of properly by waste management workers. Alternative technologies, i.e. autoclaves and incinerators with high temperature burners, have been used for managing healthcare solid waste in a sustainableway (WHO, 2020b)

During this pandemic, different countries have adopted different measures for handling healthcare solid waste, while the WHO has formulated special guidelines to manage it. The transmission of COVID-19 virus occurs through sneezing, coughing, contact with touched objects, and physical contact. Information about the survival period of the COVID-19 virus on different substrates is very important for formulating appropriate management practices and measures for dealing with healthcare solid waste. The survival periods of the COVID-19 virus following aerosolization on copper, cardboard, plastic, and stainless steel are 3 h, 4 h, 24 h, and 2–3 days respectively. Other researchers have reported that the virus can also survive on inanimate surfaces, metal, glass, or plastic, for a period of 9 days

A healthcare waste management strategy refers to a facility’s program for managing generated waste for disposal. It usually addresses

• compliance with regulations
• respo definitions/classification of healthcare waste
• nsibilities of staff members
• specific procedures for handling healthcare waste
• training of related workers
• 

Different countries have adopted different strategies in response to the management of the huge and infectious amount of waste produced during the COVID-19 pandemic

During the COVID-19 epidemic in Hubei, China, infected healthcare solid waste has been segregated and packed by waste handling employees in hospitals. They disinfect the waste using 0.5% chlorine solution and pack it in double bags prior to placing it in temporary healthcare storage within the hospitals. The method of disposal of healthcare waste depends on the particular hospital and its waste management facilities. Sterilization by autoclave or irradiation has been used before disposing of the segment of waste in a licensed landfill

The Philippines has made a special amendment for handling healthcare waste during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are special registered transporters and treatment, storage, and disposal facilities for handling healthcare waste and disposing of it on the island of Luzon. Each registered transporter is required to pass through a special checkpoint, and to provide the following online documents: an official request letter; a transporter and TSD registration certificate; a transport management plan; a transportation route; a schedule; and an agreement between the healthcare waste generator, the transporter, and the treatment workers. Each vehicle used for transporting the waste has the following special markings: name and ID of transport; placard; waste class; and waste number. These are readable from 15 m’ distance from the vehicle

Ref: linkinghub.elsevier.com

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