Repercussions of COVID-19 pandemic on solid waste generation and management strategies

Highlights

• Implication of COVID-19 on medical waste and MSW generation is studied.

• Challenges and effective strategy of solid waste generation is reviewed.

• 2.9 million tons of COVID-19 related medical waste has been generated until Sep. 22.

• The pandemic has postponed policies related to the reduction of plastic use.

• Blockade resulted in a significant drop in waste generation in some regions.

Abstract

It has been over ten months since the beginning of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-2019), and its impact on solid waste management, especially medical waste, is becoming clearer. This study systematically reviews the potential influences of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical waste, personal protection equipment waste and municipal solid waste (MSW), and discusses the corresponding measures and policies of solid waste management in typical countries. The results show that the generation of medical waste from the pandemic increased significantly, with 18%‒425% growth. It is estimated that the daily output of COVID-19 medical waste increased from 200 t/d on Feb. 22 to over 29000 t/d at the end of September 2020 throughout the world. The use of personal protective equipment will continue to grow in the long-term, while the blockade and isolation measures greatly reduced the volume of commercial waste, especially for tourist cities, and part of this waste was transferred to household waste. Residents’ attitudes and behavior toward food waste have changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to the pandemic, international organizations and several countries have issued new policies and guidelines and adjusted their management strategies for medical waste and MSW treatment. The pandemic has brought specific challenges to the disposal capacity of medical waste worldwide. It has also brought about the stagnation of policies related to the reduction of plastic products and waste recycling. This study will provide some useful information for managers and governmental officials on effective solid waste management during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

COVID-19 / Medical waste / Personal protective equipment / Municipal solid waste / Waste management

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the Science and Technology Development Fund, Macao SAR, China (No. 0062/2020/A).

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