scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on medical waste management in Lebanon

2021 ◽  
pp. 0734242X2110039
Author(s):  
Amani Maalouf ◽  
Hani Maalouf

Worldwide, there is a growing concern about the negative effects of infectious medical waste produced during the COVID-19 pandemic and the contamination risks associated with waste management. Therefore, measures to ensure that medical waste is managed safely and in an environmentally sound manner will avoid negative health and environmental effects from such waste, thus protecting the health of patients, health workers and the public in general. Despite that infectious medical waste generation rate is important for management planning and policy development, there is a limitation on national data availability and its accuracy, particularly in developing economies. This study analyses the infectious healthcare waste generation rates and management patterns in Lebanon before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The estimated average of COVID-19-related infectious healthcare waste generation in this study is 39,035 kg per month or 1.3 tonnes per day, which constitute between 5% and 20% of total infectious healthcare waste in Lebanon. This study illuminates on the impact of COVID-19 on the existing challenges of waste management in Lebanon. It highlights the need for proper management and disposal of the amounts of medical waste generated to reduce contamination risks or related environmental threats, particularly during the pandemic. It also shows that Lebanon has a defective system for monitoring of waste from healthcare institutions and gaps in waste statistics. Finally, the study summarizes recommendations related to medical waste management, which can provide valuable insight for policymakers.

2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (9) ◽  
pp. 2048-2051
Author(s):  
Mihaela Debita ◽  
Carmina Musat ◽  
Elena Mereuta ◽  
Madalina Rus ◽  
Claudiu Mereuta ◽  
...  

The paper presents some considerations about medical waste management in private medical facilities which are considered to be small generators of such waste. The regulations are also applicable in these facilities and the management must develop strategic plans for minimizing the amount of medical waste. Some examples are revealed and a statistical analysis is conducted in order to reveal the efficiency of the medical waste management system. A forecast of hazardous medical waste is determined using the moving average method.


2021 ◽  
pp. 0734242X2199680
Author(s):  
Wen-Tien Tsai

Medical waste management in Taiwan is a crucial issue due to its highly environmental and human health risks. The main objectives of this paper were to analyse the status of medical waste generation and treatment in recent years, and also address the discussions on the impacts of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on its generation in the first half of 2020. It showed that the reported quantities have slightly increased from 35,747 metric tonnes (Mt) in 2016 to 40,407 Mt in 2019, showing an average increase by 4.17%. This rate of increase was consistent with the hospital services. When classified by the reported codes, the C-type waste (infectious waste) accounted for about 89% of the reported quantities, which indicated an annual increase by 4.14% during the same period. In addition, the medical waste treatment in 2019 was mainly dependent on the commissioned treatment (80.18%), followed by the recycling (18.53%) and the self-treatment (1.29%). Furthermore, the impact of COVID-19 on the medical waste generation in Taiwan was not significant in the first half of 2020 compared to the data during the years of 2016–2019. It was indicated that the consistent trend was observed at the daily confirmed COVID-19 cases in Taiwan during this period. Obviously, the reduction in the hospital medical services during the COVID-19 outbreak should be offset by the increase in medical waste generation from the medical services. In order to try to ensure safe and complete destruction of the COVID-19 virus, all the waste generated from the healthcare facilities should be treated in the incineration plants.


WIMAYA ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (02) ◽  
pp. 19-30
Author(s):  
Benita Kristi Firmalasari ◽  
Resa Rasyidah

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the environment. The enormous need for personal protective equipment (PPE) masks (both medical and non-medical masks), protective clothing, face shields, gloves to hand sanitizers and disinfectants has resulted in the accumulation of medical waste in some regions in Indonesia. This paper aims to describe the environmental diplomacy and international cooperation efforts undertaken by the Indonesian government to address these problems. The author finds that Indonesia's environmental diplomacy was carried out before the pandemic occurred, but not much has focused on medical waste management. International cooperation to overcome the problem of medical waste accumulation has been carried out with some countries such as Japan, ASEAN and also WHO. Of course, considering that this pandemic is still ongoing, it is hoped that this paper can be the start of research and can be used as a stepping stone for further research.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1si) ◽  
pp. 104
Author(s):  
Hendri Sutrisno ◽  
Fitriana Meilasari

Introduction: Medical waste generation during the Covid19 pandemic increased by around 30%. Sources of medical waste generation are health care activities. If medical waste is not appropriately managed, it can pollute the environment and disturb health. The purpose of the review is to identify the potential of medical waste in health-care facilities in Indonesia when the Covid19 pandemic and to review medical waste management in Indonesia. The analysis uses a systematic literature review. Discussion: The potential of medical waste during the Covid19 epidemic is infectious waste (PPE wastes), sharps waste (syringes), chemical waste (expired medicines), and pharmaceutical waste (the used alcohol bottles when rapid tests). The hazardous waste management system refers to Government Regulation No. 101 year 2014 about Management of Hazardous and Toxic Waste and and Regulation of Minister of Environment and Forestry of Republic Indonesia No. P.56/MenlhkSetjen/2015 about Procedures and Technical Requirements for Waste Management Hazardous and Toxic From the Health Service Facilities. Infectious waste, sharps waste, chemical waste, and pharmaceutical waste are destroyed with incinerators. Syringe residues were damaged with a needle shredder. Residue and incineration ashes are processed using solidification. If the heavy metal content under the quality standards, then the waste can be landfill. Conclusion: The potential of medical waste during the Covid19 pandemic is infectious waste, sharps waste, chemical waste, and pharmaceutical waste. Medical waste generated must be appropriately managed. Proper medical waste management can prevent environmental pollution and the spread of disease. One of the processing of potential medical waste is incineration. The incineration system produces residue and ash waste that must further be handled so that it does not pollute the environment and disturb health.


Author(s):  
Roshanak Rezaei Kalantary ◽  
Arsalan Jamshidi ◽  
Mohammad Mehdi Golbini Mofrad ◽  
Ahmad Jonidi Jafari ◽  
Neda Heidari ◽  
...  

AbstractCovid-19 Pandemic leads to medical services for the society all over the world. The Covid-19 pandemic influence the waste management and specially medical waste management. In this study, the effect of the Covid-19 outbreak on medical waste was evaluated via assessing the solid waste generation, composition, and management status in five hospitals in Iran. The results indicated that the epidemic Covid-19 leads to increased waste generation on average 102.2 % in both private and public hospitals. In addition, the ratio of infectious waste in the studied hospitals increased by an average of 9 % in medical waste composition and 121 % compared with before COVID-19 pandemic. Changes in plans and management measurement such as increasing the frequency of waste collection per week leads to lower the risk of infection transmission from medical waste in the studied hospitals. The results obtained from the present research clearly show the changes in medical waste generation and waste composition within pandemic Covid-19. In addition, established new ward, Covid-19 ward with high-infected waste led to new challenges which should be managed properly by change in routine activities.


2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 305-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Issam A. Al-Khatib ◽  
Yousef S. Al-Qaroot ◽  
Mohammad S. Ali-Shtayeh

The objectives of this study were the assessment of healthcare waste management and the characterization of healthcare waste material generated in the hospitals in Nablus city, Palestine, and furthermore, to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B among the cleaning personnel working in these hospitals. The medical waste generation rate in kg per bed per day was between 0.59 and 0.93 kg bed— 1 day—1. The waste generation rate in the healthcare facilities of Nablus city hospitals was similar to some other developing countries; however, the percentage of medical wastes in the total waste stream was comparatively high. The density of medical waste at the four hospitals studied ranged between 144.9 and 188.4 kg m— 3 with a mean value of 166.7 kg m—3. The waste segregation and handling practices were very poor. Other alternatives for waste treatment rather than incineration such as a locally made autoclave integrated with a shredder should be evaluated and implemented. The system of healthcare waste management in Nablus city is in need of immediate improvement and attention. Formulating rules and guidelines for medical waste and developing strategies for overcoming the obstacles related to waste management should be considered as an urgent matter.


Author(s):  
Omar ibraheem Albatniji, Khaldun Khalid Mohammed, Abed Ahmad

This study aimed to identify the effectiveness of the application of the medical waste management system in Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, and contribute to building the concept of integrated management of medical waste treatment. The researchers used the descriptive analytical approach to achieve the results and answer the questions of the study through interviews with the staff who are directly related to the management of medical waste. It was clear from the results of the study that insufficient medical preventive measures were taken with regard to the preventive vaccination of working crews, especially cleaners. The large workload, the apparent lack of medicines & medical supplies and the beds of the affected people also affected the performance of the staff and the quality of service provided to the sick and injured. The results of the study also showed that the events of the Return Marches had a great impact on the performance of the work crews through the large increase in the volume and pressure of work, which in turn led to an increase in the volume of medical waste, especially human organs. One of the most important recommendations of this study is the necessity of enacting the relevant laws to control the medical waste management system and activating this system through coordinating efforts, defining responsibilities among the various concerned bodies, activating the role of the inspection and control unit at the Ministry of Health to conduct visits and periodic evaluation of medical waste management, conducting tests and vaccinations periodically and according to a specific program for the hospital staff. In addition to the allocation of closed places to collect medical waste containers after sorting instead of leaving it in the facilities and corridors of the hospital waiting to be transferred to the storage site.


Author(s):  
Joos Van den Noortgate ◽  
Rafael Van den Bergh ◽  
Peter Maes

This chapter on medical waste management outlines the principles of waste management as essential determinants of health, quality of life, and dignity. It describes the principles of healthcare waste management and based on extensive implementation experience, offers a pragmatic adaptation of approaches most suitable for low-income countries.


2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 173-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
MZ Alam ◽  
MS Islam ◽  
MR Islam

The management of medical waste (MW) is of great importance due to its impact on human health and environment. The present practices of improper management of generated medical wastes in different Healthcare Establishment (HCEs) in Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) is playing a contributing role to create vulnerable condition in spreading out the Diarrhea, Hepatitis and various skin related diseases. The objectives of the study are to identify different types of wastes, its generation rate and assess the existing waste management in various HCEs. The study was carried out in 14 different HCEs that generated much portion of MW of total generated MW in RCC. The methodology of this project was descriptive and consisted of the use of field survey and interviews with the relevant authorities and personnel involved in the management of MW. It was found that the surveyed HCEs generate a total of 1495 kg/day of MW; of which about 1328.6 kg/day (88.87%) are non-infectious and about 166.4 kg/day (11.13%) are infectious. The average waste generation rate for surveyed HCEs is 1.54 kg/bed/day or 0.30 kg/patient/day. It was found from the survey that there is no proper and systematic management of medical wastes. The study reveals that lack of awareness; financial support and willingness are responsible for improper management of MW. So the RCC and HCEs authorities should adopt appropriate policy regarding this issue and provide training program on relevant personnel who are engaged in medical waste management.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v6i1.22062 J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 6(1): 173-178 2013


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