New concept launched in SL on managing Covid-19 waste

Consumption patterns or what people consume and how they do it on a daily basis are determined with the social changes that take place over time. These changes impact our environment as well. The waste generated on a daily basis is the result of our own consumption patterns which affect our environment.

Natural disasters we face from time to time as well as social changes resulting from epidemics have a correlation with the waste generated. The Covid-19 epidemic, which is spreading around the world today, is a classic example. It has drastically changes the lives of people around the world.

As the use of masks, gloves, sanitizers and personal protective clothing becomes an essential part of everyday life, tons of such items are discarded after daily use. This special waste, or simply stated as Covid waste (or pandemic waste) is different from other types of waste as it is dangerous as well.

Due to the high percentage of single use plastic found in Covid waste, it does not decompose easily in the environment and t therefore accumulates. Such waste can be considered clinical malignancy under the pandemic condition as such items are associated with direct personal contact.

This means that such waste is no longer appropriate to be handled with municipal waste. Informal mixing of this waste with urban waste poses a serious health problem for persons involved in waste management. The health risks of open disposal should not be underestimated.

Covid waste, which is a new experience to the world, has now posed serious environmental issues. It was estimated that in 2020 alone, 56 billion face masks were used worldwide and 1.56 billion have ended up in the ocean. It is difficult to estimate the quantity of masks which has been properly disposed. However we will have to suffer the consequences of blocked drainage systems if these are not disposed in an appropriate manner.

Also, Covid waste that has been discharged to the ocean through inland drainage systems has posed a severe threat to the entire marine environment. It is the responsibility of all citizens to save the environment from this situation. Understanding the safe collection of disposable personal protective equipment after use as well as the scientific disposal of such items are important.

A new concept was launched in Sri Lanka to find a solution to the problems encountered in the management of Covid waste under the leadership of Mrs. Dharshani Lahadapura, Chairperson of the Marine Environment Protection Authority with Sisili Hanaro Encare Pvt Ltd., which provides clinical waste management services with the highest environmental protection ensuring scientific management of clinical waste.

The inaugural management program was held on January 5 at the Marine Environment Protection Authority Headquarters under the patronage of its Chairman Dr. Terny Pradeep Kumara and Chinthaka Abeysekera, CEO. Yasantha Gumarathna, General Manager representing Encare partnered the event. The Heart Aid Center, the first and only center in Sri Lanka to offer Enhanced External Counter Pulsation Therapy (EECP) for cardiovascular patients with other cardiac services sponsored the event.

The ‘Let’s Cleanup and Treat-Up’ is a program which allows everyone to contribute towards proper disposal of this new waste category. It is designed in an effective manner deviating from the traditional waste collection campaigns. Scientific management of waste is an expensive task and institutional sponsorships are essential for the project.