Improper solid waste management increases potential for COVID-19 spread in developing countries

Nzediegwu, Christopher; Chang, Scott X.

doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.104947

Cited by 280 publications

(287 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Notably, the effects of this pandemic have greatly impacted the social, economic, health, education, environmental and tourism sectors of society ( AWWA, 2020 , Fine et al, 2020 ; CCSA, 2020; Wuyts, et al 2020 ). In the last few months, one of the areas where the environmental impacts of COVID-19 are most pronounced is in waste management ( Klemeš et al, 2020 , Nzediegwu and Chang, 2020 ). This is a major environmental concern because of the surge in the demand for and the use of plastic products, protective gears, personal protective equipment (PPE), disposable life support equipment and general plastic supplies like syringes ( Klemeš et al, 2020 , Kampf et al, 2020 , Nzediegwu and Chang, 2020 ), all used in the prevention and treatment of the virus.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the last few months, one of the areas where the environmental impacts of COVID-19 are most pronounced is in waste management ( Klemeš et al, 2020 , Nzediegwu and Chang, 2020 ). This is a major environmental concern because of the surge in the demand for and the use of plastic products, protective gears, personal protective equipment (PPE), disposable life support equipment and general plastic supplies like syringes ( Klemeš et al, 2020 , Kampf et al, 2020 , Nzediegwu and Chang, 2020 ), all used in the prevention and treatment of the virus. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, pollution of the terrestrial and marine environment as a result of increasing waste generation and poor waste management was already a growing issue globally ( Yousif and Scott, 2007 , Cecilia, 2012 , Marshall and Farahbakhsh, 2013 , Mukama et al, 2016 , Boucher and Billard, 2019 , Rajmohan et al, 2019 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Municipal waste management in the era of COVID-19: Perceptions, practices, and potentials for research in developing countries

Oyedotun

Kasim

Famewo

et al. 2020

Research in Globalization

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Municipal waste management in the era of COVID-19: Perceptions, practices, and potentials for research in developing countries

Oyedotun

Kasim

Famewo

et al. 2020

Research in Globalization

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“…Urban solid waste management has long been recognized as a serious environmental issue in developing countries including Iran. Non-sustainable handling of wastes in many developing countries makes them more vulnerable to the possibility of Coronavirus propagation through waste management practices [6]. For instance, in Iran, solid wastes are usually dumped or buried in poorly managed landfills where waste pickers without proper personal protective equipments (PPEs) could scavenge for recyclable materials.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental impacts of new Coronavirus outbreak in Iran with an emphasis on waste management sector

Zand

Heir

2020

J Mater Cycles Waste Manag

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The COVID-19 pandemic have brought several environmental problems worldwide, among which management of municipal solid wastes (MSW) is of great importance due to the effects of solid wastes on soil, air and water resources. This research focused on the emerging challenges in MSW management in Tehran, the capital of Iran, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tehran has been experiencing higher generation of MSW during the pandemic. Extensive use of personal protective equipments increased textile and plastic wastes considerably. On average, more than 4.5 million pieces of facemasks have been daily discarded by Tehranian residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Generation of hospital wastes in Tehran also increased by 17.6-61.8% during the pandemic. Legal source separation and recycling programs are still suspended, though waste collection procedure in Tehran has not been subjected to significant changes after the outbreak of the Coronavirus. Hospital wastes, which had been partially separated and treated, are now being collected altogether and landfilled. Waste incineration and composting have been ceased completely; therefore landfilling of MSW has increased by 35% and opted as the only disposal option in Tehran during the COVID-19 outbreak. This research represents a baseline to devise proper urban waste management strategies in developing countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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“…According to some authors [77], the biggest challenge concerning waste management during pandemics is to ensure the destruction of residual pathogens in household and medical waste. The literature warns about the risks from the improper management of contaminated residues, including post-used PPEs, which may increase the spread of viral disease [78].…”

Section: Recycling Of Plastic During the Pandemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pros and Cons of Plastic during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Sousa¹,

Bastos²

2020

Recycling

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Since the beginning of the first cases of the new coronavirus, opinions and laws on the use of plastic materials have been questioned around the world. Their importance in the manufacture of hospital devices and personal protective equipment (PPE) is unquestionable, as they contribute largely to the reduction of the virus spread, helping health systems from all edges of the world and, most importantly, saving lives. However, the same material that is a protector, becomes a polluter when inadequately disposed of in the environment, generating or worsening socio-environmental problems, such as pollution of water bodies by plastic. A critical overview of the role of plastic during the COVID-19 pandemic is provided in this paper. A future panorama is attempted to be outlined. The real possibility of the virus spread from the use of plastic is discussed, as well as the recycling of plastic during the pandemic, correlating its use with problems that it may cause.

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Improper solid waste management increases potential for COVID-19 spread in developing countries

Cited by 280 publications

References 2 publications

Municipal waste management in the era of COVID-19: Perceptions, practices, and potentials for research in developing countries

Municipal waste management in the era of COVID-19: Perceptions, practices, and potentials for research in developing countries

Environmental impacts of new Coronavirus outbreak in Iran with an emphasis on waste management sector

Pros and Cons of Plastic during the COVID-19 Pandemic

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