Global COVID-19 response generating masses of waste: WHO

NEW DELHI: The World Health Organisation (WHO) released a report stating that the amount of waste generated by the COVID-19 pandemic is a threat to the environment and human health. WHO said that used medical equipment such as needles are posing as a health hazard and increase in plastic waste is straining the waste management system.

The 71-page report by the UN agency said that most of the 1.5 billion medical items distributed by the United Nations in the first months of the pandemic ended up as rubbish. It noted that disposable gloves contributed to more waste than any other item procured through the UN’s system.

The report cited a study which estimated that around 3.4 billion single use masks were discarded every day in 2020, around the world. The debris can pollute both land and water because most masks are made of plastic, especially in nations where waste management systems are less established. According to WHO, more than half of healthcare facilities in developing nations are unable to safely dispose of waste. The first eight billion COVID-19 vaccines delivered around the world resulted in 144,000 tonnes of waste in the form of syringes and needles, which can damage health workers if carelessly discarded.

The paper also highlighted innovative approaches to repurposing medical waste in a sustainable manner. Researchers in Australia repurposed discarded face masks as road construction material by shredding and drying them at high temperatures. The WHO recommended that manufacturers use more biodegradable materials and environmentally friendly packaging in its report. It also stated that there is a “dire need” to change the worldwide garbage disposal system.