The Problematics of Management Personal Protection Equipment Waste related to Covid-19 in Indonesia

Abstract

Medical Waste for Covid-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is classified as B3, which can potentially be a medium for spreading the virus. Therefore, management must be carried out, consisting of collection, sorting, transportation, temporary storage, to processing (destruction) based on the Circular of the Minister of Environment and Forestry Number 2 of 2020 using the incinerator and problematic autoclave methods. The purpose of this study is to find out how the law regulates the management of Covid-19 PPE waste in Indonesia and how it should be. The research method used is normative legal research. The results showed that based on the Circular Letter of the Minister of LHK No. 2 of 2020, it is determined that the destruction of Covid-19 PPE waste as B3 waste must go through an incinerator facility with a minimum combustion temperature of 800⁰ C and an autoclave equipped with a shredder. This method is considered overkill and incurs high costs. The conclusion of this study is to provide input for the Government to review or revise the Circular regarding safer Covid-19 PPE B3 waste management, including through the pyrolysis method.

Systematic Literature Review and Bibliometric Study of Waste Management in Indonesia in the COVID-19 Pandemic Era

“…For the conventional method of destruction, the type of waste ranges from biomass waste (coconut shell) [13] to, most dominantly in the COVID-19 era, a variety of medical wastes such as personal protective equipment, masks, gloves, diapers, etc.) [6,[14][15][16]. The destruction of the coconut biomass is improved using post-harvest technology sourcing the IoT (internet of things system), while the destruction of medical wastes commonly uses thermochemical processes such as pyrolysis, incineration, torrefaction, and gasification.…”

“…This huge spike in waste has overwhelmed hospitals [3] and waste banks [5]. Conventional treatments cannot treat the medical wastes optimally [6,7], and along with physical and social limitations due to COVID-19 health protocols, the public and the academic population cannot entirely perform waste management community service [8].…”

Covid-19 and Waste Management Law: Do Hard and Soft Laws Complement Each Other?

“…According to these researchers technical regulations for the destruction of medical waste should adopt technological developments that are safer for health. They recommended a revision of the Minister's circular [16]. Philipus M. Hajon, et al (2005) argue that political rules are a means of state administrative law.…”

“…There is also much medical waste sourced from health service places and places for carrying out swab testing and Covid-19 vaccination. Then, plastic waste generation from food consumption INCLAR in the household during the enactment of regulation of work from home and schooling from home is increased too ( [16], [26], [29]).…”