scholarly journals Face mask waste generation and management during the COVID-19 pandemic: An overview and the Peruvian case

2021 ◽  
pp. 147628
Author(s):  
Fernando G. Torres ◽  
Gabriel E. De-la-Torre
Keyword(s):  
Face Mask ◽  
Waste Generation

scholarly journals Waste generation as a side impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: Communication on correct disposal of single-use face masks

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Débora Tomaszewski
Keyword(s):  
Face Mask ◽  
Side Impact ◽  
Waste Generation ◽  
Visual Aids ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Environmental Consequences ◽  
Global Spread ◽  
Single Use ◽  
Regional Authorities ◽  
Primary Measure

The rapid global spread of SARS-CoV-2 and the resulting Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has led to urgent efforts to contain and mitigate transmission. The useof face masks became a primary measure to limit the spread, which increased the production and consequentwaste generation. It is estimated that globally 129 billion single-use face masks are discharged into the environment every month. Besides to add to already great concerns over plastic pollution, contaminated face masks not properly handled also poses a health risk. The health and environmental consequences caused by the inadequate disposal of single-use face masks are treated in this study as an eminent risk to be properly communicated. This study framed the waste generation as a side impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and analysed how the communication has been made regarding the correct disposal of single-use masks, with focus in users of public transport in Stockholm region. National and regional authorities are recognized as the main responsibles for the communication about correct disposal, together with manufacturers and suppliers of single-use face masks. Disclosure and informative material of four government authorities and instruction manuals of eight brands of single-use face masks are analysed according to: i) presence / absence of information (about the disposal); ii) type of communication (visual or written); iii) message transmitted and; ix) availability in other languages.It was found guidance about correct disposal of face mask in two thirds of the existing communication, that is mainly written and with few visual aids. Half of communication is made only in Swedish and with no sufficient focus on the importance of correct disposal neither with reference to trash bins with lid. It suggests that the current communication about how to disposesingle-use masks safelymay not be enough, which is affecting the perception of risk by the population and worsening the health and environmental consequencescaused by the inadequate disposal.

scholarly journals Face Mask Consumption and Medical Waste Generation During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Iran: Challenges and Problems

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hooshyar Hossini ◽  
Sheida Atashkar ◽  
Tooraj Massahi
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Solid Waste ◽  
Consumption Rate ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
Medical Waste ◽  
Generation Rate ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Waste Generation ◽  
Continuous Increase ◽  
Waste Generation Rate

Background: The outbreak of COVID-19 has caused a devastating pandemic scenario in the world. The mortality rate has increased and new socio-economic challenges are emerging. Millions of gloves, gowns, face masks, and face shields are used daily to prevent airborne transmission and facilitate the treatment of COVID-19. Mismanagement of these wastes can lead to increased concerns due to their contamination potential. A comprehensive plan to improve the management of medical wastes in every country requires awareness of the current status of solid waste. As a result, the study aimed to calculate and estimate the consumption rate of face masks and medical waste generation rate during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran. Also, the performance of different departments of medical waste management and future challenges are discussed. Methods: The daily consumption of face masks and medical waste generation were calculated based on the population data, the percentage of the urban population, face mask acceptance rate, the number of face masks needed per person per day, total COVID-19 confirmed cases, and medical waste generation rate (kg/bed/day). Results: The consumption of face masks in Iran is estimated at 46576000 pieces per day. Also, the three provinces of Tehran (9,560,000 pieces), Khorasan Razavi (3,825,600 pieces), and Isfahan (3,523,200 pieces) have the highest consumption rate of masks, respectively. Increasing the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased the medical waste generation rate. Until April 3, 2021, more than 1,920,394 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Iran, and calculations show that the medical waste generation rate in Iran is about 7,585.56 tons per day. Conclusions: COVID-19 is a highly infectious and problematic disease. The continuous increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased face mask consumption rate and medical waste generation rate, and as a result, new challenges have emerged in the field of solid waste management. These emerging challenges in managing solid waste during the COVID-19 pandemic necessitate the development of appropriate waste management policies and strategies.

scholarly journals Waste generation as a side impact of COVID-19 pandemic: Communication on correct disposal of single-use face masks

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Débora Tomaszewski
Keyword(s):  
Face Mask ◽  
Side Impact ◽  
Waste Generation ◽  
Visual Aids ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Environmental Consequences ◽  
Global Spread ◽  
Single Use ◽  
Regional Authorities ◽  
Primary Measure

The rapid global spread of SARS-CoV-2 and the resulting Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has led to urgent efforts to contain and mitigate transmission. The use of face masks became a primary measure to limit the spread, which increased the production and consequent waste generation. It is estimated that globally 129 billion single-use face masks are discharged into the environment every month. Besides to add to already great concerns over plastic pollution, contaminated face masks not properly handled also poses a health risk. The health and environmental consequences caused by the inadequate disposal of single-use face masks are treated in this study as an eminent risk to be properly communicated. This study framed the waste generation as a side impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and analysed how the communication has been made regarding the correct disposal of single-use masks, with focus in users of public transport in Stockholm region. National and regional authorities are recognized as the main responsibles for the communication about correct disposal, together with manufacturers and suppliers of single-use face masks. Disclosure and informative material of four government authorities and instruction manuals of eight brands of single-use face masks are analysed according to: i) presence / absence of information (about the disposal); ii) type of communication (visual or written); iii) message transmitted and; ix) availability in other languages. It was found guidance about correct disposal of face mask in two thirds of the existing communication, that is mainly written and with few visual aids. Half of communication is made only in Swedish and with no sufficient focus on the importance of correct disposal neither with reference to trash bins with lid. It suggests that the current communication about how to dispose single-use masks safely may not be enough, which is affecting the perception of risk by the population and worsening the health and environmental consequences caused by the inadequate disposal.

A Review : Sustainability from Waste

2019 ◽  
pp. 134-155
Author(s):  
Kriti Jain ◽  
Chirag Shah
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Solid Waste ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Waste To Energy ◽  
Waste Generation ◽  
Material Resources ◽  
Waste Dumps ◽  
Waste Segregation ◽  
Treatment And Disposal ◽  
Engineered Landfill

The increasing volume and complexity of waste associated with the modern economy as due to the ranging population, is posing a serious risk to ecosystems and human health. Every year, an estimated 11.2 billion tonnes of solid waste is collected worldwide and decay of the organic proportion of solid waste is contributing about 5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions (UNEP). Poor waste management - ranging from non-existing collection systems to ineffective disposal causes air pollution, water and soil contamination. Open and unsanitary landfills contribute to contamination of drinking water and can cause infection and transmit diseases. The dispersal of debris pollutes ecosystems and dangerous substances from waste or garbage puts a strain on the health of urban dwellers and the environment. India, being second most populated country of the world that too with the lesser land area comparatively, faces major environmental challenges associated with waste generation and inadequate waste collection, transport, treatment and disposal. Population explosion, coupled with improved life style of people, results in increased generation of solid wastes in urban as well as rural areas of the country. The challenges and barriers are significant, but so are the opportunities. A priority is to move from reliance on waste dumps that offer no environmental protection, to waste management systems that retain useful resources within the economy [2]. Waste segregation at source and use of specialized waste processing facilities to separate recyclable materials has a key role. Disposal of residual waste after extraction of material resources needs engineered landfill sites and/or investment in waste-to-energy facilities. This study focusses on the minimization of the waste and gives the brief about the various initiations for proper waste management system. Hence moving towards the alternatives is the way to deal with these basic problems. This paper outlines various advances in the area of waste management. It focuses on current practices related to waste management initiatives taken by India. The purpose of this article put a light on various initiatives in the country and locates the scope for improvement in the management of waste which will also clean up the unemployment.

Study of face mask filtration efficiency to prevent fine dust to secure people’s right to health

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 186-193
Author(s):  
Woo-Taeg Kwon ◽  
◽  
Min-Jae Jung ◽  
Bum-Soo Kim ◽  
Woo-Sik Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Face Mask ◽  
Right To Health ◽  
Filtration Efficiency ◽  
Fine Dust
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