Here is how COVID-19 is impacting the realm of waste management.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused medical waste and hazardous waste to take a significant rise. For the sake of preserving the health of humans and the planet itself, such waste must be handled properly and safely. While there isn’t a lot of data that goes over what COVID-19 has done to impact the waste management industry, we want to use what data we have available so that we can be more prepared if another pandemic were to ever come to pass in the future. Here is how COVID-19 is impacting the realm of waste management.
An Upsurge in the Use of Protective Gear
This is one of the most obvious changes brought about due to COVID-19. Since people want to avoid infection, much more protective equipment, like masks, is getting used. A problem we’re seeing is that a lot of this equipment isn’t collected properly, meaning much of it ends up in dumpsites with poor management, to the misfortune of the environment.
Do We Need Compulsory Separation of Waste on Sites That Treat COVID-19 Patients?
As a rough estimate, around 75%-90% of waste that healthcare facilities produce isn’t hazardous or infectious. However, that still leaves a small percentage that could be dangerous, which is why separating these wastes is vital. Keeping hazardous waste separated from non-hazardous waste is an important step in waste management because it lowers how much waste is going to need specialized treatment.
There are other aspects of waste management in the healthcare industry. Such aspects include color coding, waste classification, handling, storage, transport, and final disposal.
Are There Any Environmental Implications That Have Occurred As a Result of COVID-19?
We haven’t had enough time to understand all of the environmental implications pertaining to the current global pandemic. However, we have seen a couple of short-term implications, and not all of them might be considered as bad. For example, the burning of fossil fuels could go down by two and a half billion tons in the span of a year, which would be the single largest decline in the demand for fossil fuels we have ever seen. The quality of air for a lot of areas has also seen improvements. Long-term implications are yet to be determined as the pandemic is still ongoing. We’re confident that studies will be conducted not just on how the pandemic has impacted the environment but also how it has impacted people’s societies and economies.
Contact AEG Environmental Today!
Our team can get your business in top shape and minimize any chances of COVID-19 harming your staff and visitors. Don’t put the safety of anyone at risk! Instead, let our staff handle removing any trace of COVID-19 from your facility. If you’re interested in our services, call us today and we’ll be happy to lend your business a hand.