By Suman Nandy
Caparica, Portugal.
2020, we are experiencing an unwanted situation that has changed our entire lifestyle. The whole world (more than 213 countries and territories) is affected, impacting all social areas and sectors, reaching from, health to economy.We are habituated with three phrases: “keep safe distance”, “wear your mask” and “sanitize yourself”. Because of the highly contagious parameters, we are concerned about the single use products such as personal protective kit, gloves, face mask and packaging. Right now, health and safety have taken priority over the environment. But this should not be a well practise for sustainable future. A civilization can only exist with their future thoughts.We can live better now, but we must think best for tomorrow.Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation is alarming us, to be careful and prepare for future. We are still not smart that we assume! There is no denying that already the world is in crisis due to overuse of un-recycled product that will end up in landfills and sustain over 100-1000 years. These kinds of unrecycled and unreacted products are affecting the soil, sea and river water that makes a negative effect in environment and living plants and animals. It was reported by European Union that in the Europe, 31kg of plastic packaging waste is produced per person per year in average that adds up to 15.8 million tonnes of plastic packaging waste generated in one year1.Waste plastics are a serious and growing environmental problem. In 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDS) that are set by United Nation to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all by 2030, sustainability, waste management, recycling of product and environment are the concerning factors2.
But the present situation due to COVID-19 pandemic has led to a serious impedimentin waste management progress. Proper management of safety procedure will protect us in this crucial situation of pandemic. But mismanagement and misuse can also lead to another big crisis in environmental pollution. On 1st July 2020, the World Economic Forum reported an article entitled “The plastic pandemic is only getting worse during COVID-19”3. It raises the question of single-use plastics during the pandemic. Mostly, all the countries are facing mismanagement in waste product control. According to the report4,5 in China, medical waste from personal protective equipment like gloves, face masks and eye protection due to a surge in pandemic has raised tremendously from 40 tons per day in normal days to a peak of 247 tonswhich is about six fold.According to the Waste Agency of Catalonia report, the medical waste including masks, gloves, overalls, or davantals, has detected a 350% increment since mid-March which ismostly 925 tonnes more than usual6. According to the Thailand Environment Institute (TEI), plastic waste has increased from 1,500 tons to 6,300 tons per day, due to the frequent owing of home deliveries of food in pandemic situation which is 15%. TEI president Dr.Wijarn said, in Thailand each day, approximately 1.5 million face masks are being used and disposed. In Bangkok, the amount is about 150 tons per day7. With a same trend, in United Kingdom, there has been reported a huge spike in fly-tipping (illegal dumping) in some parts during the coronavirus lockdown.The Countryside Alliance reports approximately of 300% rise in fly-tipping after local authorities closed recycling centres amid the Covid-19 crisis8. Moreover, along with the increment of medical and protective kit wastage, COVID-19 pandemic situation also makes an obstruction on normal waste disposal and recycling system. According to the survey (on 18th May 2020from 95 surveyed communities) by AMORCE (French network for information, sharing of experiences and support for local authorities in the field of energy transition, territorial waste management and water cycle management), 42% of communities have noted a tendency to deposit non-conforming waste in the bins (mixed-waste or separate collections) and 48% noted an upsurge of illegal deposits. Also, an interruption has been noticed for selective waste (such as glass, paper, food waste, bulky waste) collections (door-to-door or bring-banks). Bulky waste and textile collections are the most interrupted which is about 41% 9. This situation is more or less similar in all over the world.
Therefore, specific plans and awareness programs should be carried out by all the countries and associations so that our fight against waste management and environment pollution will come in required track. People should be alerted to maintain selective waste management system. Also, we have to think about the use of biodegradable natural materials which will not make a negative impact on environment.
Author is currently a research investigator in CENIMAT, Department of Materials Science, FCT-Universidad Nova da Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal
References:
1. How much plastic packaging waste do you produce? 22 April 2018; https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/-/EDN-20180422-1?inheritRedirect=true
2. Sustainable Development Goals; https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/
3. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/07/plastic-waste-management-covid19-ppe/
4. Y. Ma, X. Lin, A. Wu, Q. Huang, X. Li, J. Yan, “Suggested guidelines for emergency treatment of medical waste during COVID-19: Chinese experience”, Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy2020, 1.
5. Z. H. Si, Y. Li, “Medical waste treatment in Wuhan from emergency to stability,” Xin Hua Net (2020); www.xinhuanet.com/local/2020-04/01/c_1125796126.htm [in Chinese]
6. The Catalan Waste Agency has established different options to treat sanitary waste in the COVID-19 period; 15 April 2020;http://residus.gencat.cat/es/actualitat/noticies/detall/residus-sanitaris-COVID19-00001 [in Spanish]
7. COVID-19 has positive impact on ecosystem, 18 April 2020; National News Bureau & Public Relations
http://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG200418155259223
8. Coronavirus lockdown sees huge rise in fly-tipping across UK, 14 April 2020; https://www.itv.com/news/2020-04-14/coronavirus-lockdown-sees-huge-rise-in-fly-tipping-across-uk
9. Association of Cities and Regions for sustainable Resource management;https://www.acrplus.org/en/municipal-waste-management-covid-19#france