Plastic waste footprint in the context of COVID-19: Reduction challenges and policy recommendations towards sustainable development goals

Abstract

The sudden surge in demand to use plastic products due to COVID-19 pandemic has increased plastic pollution. It has resulted into degradation of a broad range of habitats and ecosystems by destroying natural functions, water quality, and environmental sustainability. However, the government agencies, scientific communities, and the public, have started to give attention to this issue. So, in the present study, we used the correlation methods to check the relationship between COVID-19 affected population with the medical plastic waste (MPW) that has developed a conceptual model of the inter-linkages between the preventive measures of COVID-19 pandemic problems and the reduction challenges of plastic waste during and after pandemic scenarios. Emerging issues in the waste management during and after the COVID-19 are established by reviewing the literature, reports, policy briefs, and information from the website concerning COVID-19. Considering MPW management issues, we selected India as a case study to analyse the plastic waste footprint (PWF) due to COVID-19 pandemic. The correlation results showed COVID-19 affected population and MPW; COVID-19 affected population and PWF have a significant relationship (R 2 = 0.60; Area under ROC curve 81.4%). It suggests an urgent need for plastic waste management initiatives. Moreover, substantial plastic products, human awareness, strict government regulations, and inclusive research can check plastic waste footprints in India and worldwide. Then discuss the specific pathways through which the immediate and long-term impacts operate and highlight the issues of hampering the sustainable development goals (SDGs) progress in India and beyond. Finally, call for coordinated assessment, support and appropriate short- and long-term mitigation and the policy measures of plastic waste problems during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unmasking emerging issues in solid waste management: Knowledge and self-reported practices on the discarded disposable masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines

“…The study by Olaifa et al., (2018) supports this argument. It was revealed in their study that in order to increase awareness on the proper disposal of DMs among people, then there is a need to continue educating them in whatever platforms ( Das et al., 2021 ; Mallick et al., 2021 ; Parashar and Hait, 2021 ) and regardless of their demographics. The information to be shared to continuously educate people on proper DM disposal should include the composition of DMs, hazards associated with improper disposal, and proper and safe ways to dispose these.…”

“…Toward a sustainable approach in improving the knowledge and practices of Filipinos in the proper disposal of plastic wastes, such as used DMs, the education sector should plan and design curriculum spaces for the inclusion of environmental education. Empowering people in order to reinforce and sustain a certain environmental operation is a necessary action to bring about successful participatory implementation ( Das et al., 2021 ; Limon and Villarino, 2020 ; Limon et al., 2020 ; Mallick et al., 2021 ; Parashar and Hait, 2021 ). The use of color-coded or labelled waste bags or bins in households, medical and health facilities, isolation and quarantine areas, and in local government units must be practiced in order to avoid littering and mismanagement of used DMs.…”

“…Discarded DMs are inappropriately littered in different environmental areas where plastic and plastic particle wastes should not be thrown, such as in water bodies, in public roads and highways, and in mountainous areas. This waste item poses negative impact in the marine ecosystem as it becomes marine debris ( Almulhin et al., 2021 ; Arduso et al., 2020 ; Chakraborty and Maity 2020 ; De la Torre et al., 2020 ; Kutralam-Muniasamy et al., 2020 ; Mallick et al., 2021 ; Martinez Silva and Nanny, 2020 ; Mol and Caldas, 2020 ; Parashar and Hait, 2021 ; Rume and Islam, 2020 ; Vilagran et al., 2020 ), and it threatens people whose livelihoods primarily depend on aquatic resources ( Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (2020) , Kasam, 2020 ). Discarded DMs could also be spotted in public roads and highways ( Bamber, 2020 ) – posing a potential source of viral transmission to people, most specially to garbage collectors ( CDC, 2020d ; Das et al., 2021 ).…”

“…The World Health Organization ( World Health Organization 2020c ) reported that incorrect disposal of these masks may actually increase the rate of viral transmission. Certainly, COVID-19 has not only given rise to a global pandemic, but has also led to the increased production and consumption of DMs, resulting in the emergence of a new environmental challenge ( Das et al., 2021 ; Mallick et al., 2021 ; Parashar and Hait, 2021 ). This environmental challenge arises from the fact that other wastes that should be managed properly should not be ignored.…”

Impacts of COVID-19 on Sustainable Development Goals and effective approaches to maneuver them in the post-pandemic environment

“…Concerning SDG 12, a large amount of food is lost in the supply chain before reaching the end customer. The upheaval of biomedical waste generation is witnessed during the pandemic, especially the single-use plastic products (such as PPE) (Mallick et al 2021 ). Regarding plastic pollution, a study found that there is a strong correlation between COVID-19-affected population and plastic waste footprint.…”