Biomedical waste generation and management during COVID-19 pandemic in India: challenges and possible management strategies

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the massive generation of biomedical waste (BMW) and plastic waste (PW). This sudden spike in BMW and PW has created challenges to the existing waste management infrastructure, especially in developing countries. Safe disposal of PW and BMW is essential; otherwise, this virus will lead to a waste pandemic. This paper reviews the generation of BMW and PW before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, the regulatory framework for BMW management, policy interventions for COVID-19-based BMW (C-BMW), the capacity of BMW treatment and disposal facilities to cope with the challenges, possible management strategies, and perspectives in the Indian context. This study indicated that policy intervention helped minimize the general waste treated as C-BMW, especially during the second pandemic. Inadequacy of common BMW treatment facilities' (CBMWTFs) capacity to cope with the BMW daily generation was observed in some states resulting in compromised treatment conditions. Suggestions for better management of BMW and PW include decontamination of used personal protective equipment (PPEs) and recycling, alternate materials for PPEs, segregation strategies, and use of BMW for coprocessing in cement kilns. All upcoming CBMWTFs should be equipped with higher capacity and efficient incinerators for the sound management of BMW. Post-pandemic monitoring of environmental compartments is imperative to assess the possible impacts of pandemic waste.

Accumulation of biomedical waste during the COVID-19 pandemic: concerns and strategies for effective treatment

“…(Datta et al 2018). • Include the environmental implications of BMW in educational curriculum to increase awareness among future generations (Dehal et al 2021).…”

“…Alternatively, plasma gasification at 1050 °C was used for Y-BMW. Red (R-BMW), white (W-BMW), and blue (B-BMW) categories of BMW are disposed of with dry sterilization and autoclaving at minimum temperatures (Dehal et al 2021). The sudden increase in waste generation owing to COVID-19 has challenged waste management systems worldwide.…”

A comprehensive review of the application of plasma gasification technology in circumventing the medical waste in a post-COVID-19 scenario

“…This translates to about 0.33 million tons of waste annually from healthcare facilities. Out of this generated waste, 544 tons per day of the waste is disposed of using different methods, while 74 tons per day is released into the environment without proper treatment [41]. A similar study by Ramteke and Sahu [42] has found that almost 28% of total waste generated is disposed of unscientifically in open areas.…”

“…6. The single-use face masks, gloves, boots, PPE kits, goggles, face shields, etc., comprise mainly low-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, and other components, increasing the percentage of plastic content in biomedical waste [41].…”

“…The packaging in multi-layered plastics is also harmful as they possess very low recyclability due to polystyrene, low-density polyethylene, etc. [41]. Most medicines cover use of singleuse plastics, tablets, capsule covers, containers, and sample collectors.…”