COVID Trash: As the crisis recedes, the garbage rises

Lately, as the public health crisis of the pandemic subsides somewhat, the attention has shifted to other knock-on effects. These include the economic downturn, high unemployment, increased mental health issues, etc. However, one crucial aspect that is not getting nearly enough attention is the surge in waste.

So, being curious, I looked up online for new research and studies on the subject. I found a few from reliable organizations; and the findings are, simply put, alarming. For example, according to the United Nations Environment Program⁽¹⁾, in the past year, health care facilities around the world produced about 7.5 pounds of COVID-related medical waste per person per day. So, why is this alarming? And why is it particularly alarming for developing nations?

The global waste landscape

Before the pandemic, the World Bank had stated⁽²⁾ that global waste will increase by 70% on current levels by 2050, due to rapid urbanization and growing populations. At the time – although they only accounted for 16% of the world’s population – high-income countries combined were generating more than one-third (34%) of the world’s waste. Despite massive populations and rapid urbanization rates, both India and China are well below the top-five waste generators, in per capita terms. Canada, the US, and other European countries continue to generate high municipal solid waste (MSW). While this was already a pressing issue in 2019, the pandemic has further aggravated the waste crisis.

A surge in medical waste

According to the same UNEP research, in cities like Manila, Jakarta, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur — all capital cities of leading Southeast Asian countries — the rate of increase in waste due to the pandemic is a whopping 500% on average. If the statistic from 2019 was alarming in itself, where does this leave these countries in this new scenario? During the pandemic, due to drastic demand for gloves, masks, PPE kits, syringes, etc., the use of single-use plastics skyrocketed. But this isn’t the only problem — the core issue stems from the stigma associated with the handling of COVID-related medical waste.

Despite various studies downplaying the risk of surface contamination, medical waste is being discarded without being sent to recycling facilities. Even in leading countries with safe waste-handling practices, medical waste is piling up, leading to multiple secondary ill-effects. While there are reports of local administrations resorting to burning medical waste, such efforts are mostly small-scale. And there is a glaring lack of clarity and consensus among policymakers on the designation of COVID-related waste as “general, recyclable waste”. That said, the question remains: If such waste is deemed “recyclable”, will it solve the issue?

The recycle dilemma

Over the years, the plastics recycling industry has grown significantly. Many countries have scaled their capabilities. However, as hand sorting is a key sourcing process, the recycling industry is facing a shortage of supplies due to apprehensive workers. Additionally, the nature of work has induced fears of contamination among recycling industry workers. In a comprehensive study⁽³⁾ of the recycling landscape by Reuters, it was found that nearly 80% of the recycling industry was not operational in countries like India, Vietnam, and the Philippines. So, between the Philippines’ 500% increase in COVID-related waste and the 80% reduction in recycling operations, we have a crisis at hand.

The adverse impact and the need for immediate action

In developing countries, the recycling industry and the mode of operations are far from ideal. They could barely manage the pre-pandemic waste quantity. Now, with added quantities and the associated stigma, the situation could get worse. As the waste piles up, and becomes a fertile medium for rat infestation and other vectors, the health risk of sanitation workers will only grow with time. In India, many RWAs are already reporting heaps of medical waste⁽⁴⁾.

Treating it as a biomedical waste will increase the costs, but recycling could be met with operational challenges. And the contents of the waste pose additional, specific challenges. For example: In countries where waste is scavenged and sold in secondary, unorganized markets, there is a risk of misuse of syringes and vaccine vials. In India, where the pandemic set off a parallel black market for Remdesivir, masks, and sanitizers; misuse of syringes and vials could have disastrous consequences. It is therefore a multi-dimensional crisis that requires immediate policy-led actions. And considering that new waste continues to pile up as we speak, addressing it is essentially a race against time — and a race we cannot afford to lose.