The COVID-19 pandemic has generated sizable amounts of trash in the forms of masks, test kits, vaccine syringes, gloves, and other various items that have become more prevalent. The majority of these items are single-use and need to be replaced often. According to an article by the United Nations, “over 140 million test kits, with a potential to generate 2,600 tonnes of non-infectious waste (mainly plastic) – and 731,000 liters of chemical waste (equivalent to one-third of an Olympic-size swimming pool) – have been shipped.” An additional 8 billion vaccine doses produced 144,000 tons of waste from syringes, needles, and packaging. Personal protective equipment (PPE) led to another 87,000 tons of medical waste between 2020 and 2021 after being used in countries including Bangladesh and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Currently, medical waste is often disposed of by being burned in incinerators. This method has been known to create a dangerous environment for the surrounding area. For example, medical waste incinerators have caused hens locally to absorb toxins and create hazardous eggs. In poorer countries, medical waste is also burned in open pits which generate hazardous ash and contribute to pollution.
Ideally, the medical supplies that are currently only available as single-use items would instead be designed to be sterilized and reused. This requires a remodel of supplies using different materials that are intended to be durable and easy to clean.
Instead of redesigning medical supplies, there has been a movement to improve recycling efforts of used supplies. Although it appears to be an easier option, recycling is also difficult because sorting the materials takes time. For example, a disposable mask includes metal in the nose clip, polypropylene filters, and elastic head secures. All of these materials would need to be separated to be recycled. Color-coded disposal systems are being created in an attempt to make this recycling possible.
Amos Gborie, the director of the Division of Environmental and Occupational Health at the National Public Health Institute of Liberia, explains that in an effort to properly dispose of medical waste and encourage methods besides burning, “his department recently assembled a team that collects waste from health care facilities […] and then delivers it to a centralized disposal facility.” Additionally, Liberian officials are becoming involved by collecting medical garbage from private hospitals and collecting fees for their waste management.
In addition to efforts to make reusable items and encourage proper recycling, another proposed solution is to reduce the number of medical supplies used when possible. For example, some healthcare workers, like those who administer vaccines, do not benefit from wearing gloves. Reducing the use of supplies would provide more time to find a solution to the waste that is being created. Although it is only a temporary fix, it is important to deal with the medical garbage that is being generated. According to the United Nations, “Today, 30 per cent of healthcare facilities (60 per cent in the least developed countries) are not equipped to handle existing waste loads, let alone the additional waste.” Inability to properly dispose of medical waste can lead to health workers getting burns, accidental needle sticks, and pathologic microorganisms.
Overall, the garbage generated from medical waste is a growing problem that has been exacerbated by supplies used during the COVID-19 pandemic. The solution will likely include all three methods of creating reusable products, responsible recycling, and reducing supplies used in order to reduce waste.
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