“Everything continued as normal”: What happened to Africa’s wave of Covid-19 waste?

Kalina, Marc; Ali, Fathima; Tilley, Elizabeth

doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2020.11.051

Cited by 16 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…The waste disposal method is different. The net value of medical waste estimated by the "Estimation of monthly production of medical waste" section was considered as infectious waste in this study [ 36 ]. Due to the lack of relevant data, our study uses the assessment data of typical medical waste as a substitute.…”

Section: Methods and Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of medical waste generation, associated environmental impact, and management issues after the outbreak of COVID-19: A case study of the Hubei Province in China

Song

Yu-rong

et al. 2022

PLoS ONE

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COVID-19 greatly challenges the human health sector, and has resulted in a large amount of medical waste that poses various potential threats to the environment. In this study, we compiled relevant data released by official agencies and the media, and conducted data supplementation based on earlier studies to calculate the net value of medical waste produced in the Hubei Province due to COVID-19 with the help of a neural network model. Next, we reviewed the data related to the environmental impact of medical waste per unit and designed four scenarios to estimate the environmental impact of new medical waste generated during the pandemic. The results showed that a medical waste generation rate of 0.5 kg/bed/day due to COVID-19 resulted in a net increase of medical waste volume by about 3366.99 tons in the Hubei Province. In the four scenario assumptions, i.e., if the medical waste resulting from COVID-19 is completely incinerated, it will have a large impact on the air quality. If it is disposed by distillation sterilization, it will produce a large amount of wastewater and waste residue. Based on the results of the study, we propose three policy recommendations: strict control of medical wastewater discharge, reduction and transformation of the emitted acidic gases, and attention to the emission of metallic nickel in exhaust gas and chloride in soil. These policy recommendations provide a scientific basis for controlling medical waste pollution.

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Section: Methods and Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of medical waste generation, associated environmental impact, and management issues after the outbreak of COVID-19: A case study of the Hubei Province in China

Song

Yu-rong

et al. 2022

PLoS ONE

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“…Amid the risk of transmission of the virus, the population changed its patterns of behavior and consumption [ 37 ]. The excessive demand for gloves and individual protection masks, as well as plastic packaging for food, hand sanitizer and medicine, causes concern and uncertainty about the environmental advances that we have been seeking and achieving in recent years [ 38 ].…”

Section: Single-use Plastics In Face Of the Covid-19 Pandemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Perspective of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Plastic Waste Management and Cooperatives of Waste Pickers in Brazil

2022

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Brazil is the fourth largest producer of plastic waste in the world. Among all the challenges the country had faced in the development of public policies for the banning of single-use plastics, the new coronavirus pandemic scenario determined the suspension of these laws indefinitely. In 2020, Brazil became the global epicenter of COVID-19. This scenario changed the habit and behavior of Brazilian consumers, who increased the consumption of plastics due to their importance in applications as protective material. The country also has social problems related to waste management that depend mainly on waste pickers. These workers need social visibility and protection not only to face the current health crisis but also to guarantee their income and survival. This work aims to discuss the increase in single-use plastics that are not intended for recycling and the respective environmental, economic, and social impacts for the country. We demonstrate the lack of data on waste management in Brazil and highlight the importance of the social inclusion of waste pickers for a circular economy. Especially after the change of scenario with the COVID-19 pandemic, the country must have adequate planning and improvements in waste management, recycling programs, and political intervention to raising awareness among the population and guaranteeing social rights for waste pickers.

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“…However, all items need to be packed to facilitate transportation and maintain the product quality, which has caused a significant increase in packaging production, both in the productive sector and as residues. This shift in solid waste production resulted in a huge environmental impact and a challenge for cities around the globe (Kalina et al 2021 ; Tilley and Kalina 2020 ).…”

Section: Consequences Of Plastic During the Covid-19 Pandemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The correct management of waste is essential to avoid socio-environmental problems, especially during pandemics. COVID-19 waste may spread the virus if not handled properly (Kalina et al 2021 ; Tilley and Kalina 2020 ). It must be correctly identified, segregated, disinfected, transported, and safely disposed of.…”

Section: Possible Solutionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plastic and its consequences during the COVID-19 pandemic

Sousa

Bastos²

2021

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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During the pandemic outbreak of COVID-19, the important role of plastic becomes evident since vital equipment such as respirators have plastic parts, as well as personal protective equipment (PPE), which avoids the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is made of plastic. So, plastic during a pandemic is considered a life savior in the struggle against the virus. However, the same material that is a protector becomes a polluter when inadequately disposed of in the environment, generating or worsening socio-environmental problems, such as pollution of water bodies by plastic. This work proposes a reflection about the role and the importance of plastic in our society, bringing an overview of its main applications and consequences during the COVID-19 pandemic, correlating its use with aspects related to environmental problems and public health. Some questions revolving around the concerns caused by plastic pollution are posed, and some possible solutions to the problems are outlined.

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“Everything continued as normal”: What happened to Africa’s wave of Covid-19 waste?

Cited by 16 publications

References 15 publications

Assessment of medical waste generation, associated environmental impact, and management issues after the outbreak of COVID-19: A case study of the Hubei Province in China

Assessment of medical waste generation, associated environmental impact, and management issues after the outbreak of COVID-19: A case study of the Hubei Province in China

A Perspective of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Plastic Waste Management and Cooperatives of Waste Pickers in Brazil

Plastic and its consequences during the COVID-19 pandemic

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