Impacts of COVID-19 Outbreak on the Municipal Solid Waste Management: Now and beyond the Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the municipal essential services, including municipal solid waste (MSW) management. This study has reviewed the literature on MSW and solid medical waste (SMW) management systems, waste management initiatives specific to this pandemic, as well as their impacts now and beyond. Waste segregation and separate treatment of waste streams play important roles in reducing the environmental, health, and social impacts of waste and waste management. The global warming potential of MSW and SMW were found to be varied from −0.64 to 520 kg CO 2 equiv/tonne and −52.1 to 3730 kg CO 2 equiv/tonne, respectively, which widely depend on the sterilization and disposal processes. Similarly, MSW and SMW disposal costs varied from 90 to $242/tonne and 12 to $1530.0/tonne, respectively. Various changes made to waste collection and management because of the COVID-19 pandemic affected waste segregation and recycling. Since the start of the pandemic, various sectors, including the food, waste management, and healthcare sectors, relied on the increased use of single-use plastics to prevent transmission of COVID-19. An environmentally friendly alternative (biodegradable/compostable) to widely used single-use plastics is desired for easing waste management problems. Although various initiatives are underway to manage growing volumes of MSW and SMW, while controlling the spreading of infectious diseases, the movable grate incineration technology coupled with an adequate disinfection process presents a potential solution in managing the COVID-19 waste challenges. The proper disinfection method and technological choices can mitigate the risk of spreading infections and can improve the waste management system's sustainability, especially the contaminated waste.

Face Masks to Combat Coronavirus (COVID-19)—Processing, Roles, Requirements, Efficacy, Risk and Sustainability

“…It was also reported that 10 tons of PPE waste, including face masks, travelled 10 km for the designated disposal area, potentially resulting in a total global warming potential (GWP) impact of 2.76 kg CO 2 -eq [ 126 ]. The GWP of municipal solid waste (MSW) and solid medical waste (SMW) is varied from approximately −0.64 to 520 kg CO 2 -eq/ton and −52.1 to 3730 kg CO 2 -eq/ton, respectively, from previous years to recent years in the global pandemic [ 127 ]. Moreover, it enters the waterways and reaches fresh water and marine water.…”

“…Besides the environmental impact, waste management and additional workforce may add to the national and global economic impact. MSW and SMW disposal costs varied approximately from USD 90 to 242/ton and USD 12 to 1530/ton, respectively, from previous years to recent years in the pandemic [ 127 ].…”

“…During community outbreaks and global pandemics, waste management is heavily interrupted, leading to improper storage and disposal of wastes. The growing waste build-up and poor waste management may have social, environmental, and health consequences, including the potential transmission of infectious diseases [ 127 ]. The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) published a waste management report during the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

“…Technological advancement is crucial for minimizing waste management problems by including corresponding stakeholders from every sector of the waste management systems. Combining these two is the key to developing a sustainable waste management system and policies that may assure resilience in current and future crises [ 127 ]. Aside from appropriate disposal and trash management, two major ways to minimize waste materials are reusability and eco-friendliness, i.e., biodegradable PPE or face masks.…”

Synthesis, Properties, and Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Poly(lactic acid)-co-Poly(propylene adipate) Block Copolymers Prepared by Reactive Extrusion

“…The most popular approach to minimize the problem, which is recycling, is only performed in less than 10% of the plastic waste (mainly mechanical recycling of poly(ethylene terephthalate)); the majority of it still ends up in landfills [ 3 ]. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic had a profound effect on the increase of municipal and medical waste and disrupted waste management [ 4 ]. However, because of the unique characteristics of plastics and their integral role in modern society, their production, as well as waste accumulation, are expected to keep increasing [ 1 ].…”