With surging Coronavirus cases and the uncertainty of when the pandemic will end, it’s time to ascertain the impact of the thousands of tons or more of COVID-19 waste generated across the nation. This is a glaring and significant challenge to our subtle approach to medical waste disposal and precautions to eliminate any possibility of further contamination.
The pandemic has exposed vulnerabilities in the Waste Management Sector which will have a broad and lasting impact on our health, safety and the environment.
While some states have engaged all stakeholders and taking collaborative actions, in many cases, the ground realities in adapting pose significant challenges to effectively collect, store, transport and dispose of the contagious waste. While the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has laid down guidelines, it’s implementation need to be strengthened on the ground. Bio-medical waste is distinct from normal trash or general waste and differs from other types of hazardous waste and is defined as any waste produced during the diagnosis, treatment or immunization of human beings or animals or any other research activities.
The CPCB released a set of guidelines on 19 March 2020 for handling and disposal of COVID-19 waste generated during diagnosis, treatment and quarantine of patients and suspected cases, in addition to the existing scientific practices under the Biomedical Waste (BMW) Management Rules, 2016. The ambit of the guidelines was further expanded on 25 March and the second revision on 18 April 2020, based on the interventions and responses vital to deal with the emerging situation of the pandemic.
Given that we are on the brink of various environmental and public health issues through the COVID-19 waste streams, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered a high level task team to supervise and monitor the handling and disposal of COVID-19 waste and enforce full compliance of the guidelines.
The guidelines to be followed by all stakeholders including quarantine centers/camps, isolation wards, sample collection centers, laboratories, medical establishments, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), home-care units, Central Biomedical Waste Treatment Facilities (CBWTFs) and other disposal facilities.
The subsequent two revisions incorporated provisions for places including rural and remote areas with no CBWTF, to identify existing captive treatment facilities at any hospital for disposal of COVID-19 waste and in case of large volume of yellow category waste in non-CBWTF, the guidelines permit “use of deep burial pits” for disposal. In addition, guidelines and responsibilities of individuals operating sewage treatment plants at Healthcare Facilities and management of general waste from quarantine homes and masks/gloves from other households.
The CPCB Board has launched a digital tracking system to monitor the waste-cycle of all bio-medical waste (BMW) generators who will be required to submit details on a common platform.
All our Civic Bodies: the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), Pollution Control Committees (PCCs), Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)including the Common Biomedical Waste Treating Facilities (CBWTFs) involved in the waste management of bio-medical COVID-19 waste, to collectively monitor, tighten coordination mechanisms and ensure safe collection and disposal of all waste. Further, objectively establish and maintain effective preparedness and response strategies to face challenges to battle the pandemic.
The rapidly evolving pandemic has demonstrated the urgent need for decentralized Waste Management to help in limiting transmission through the municipal waste chain.
With the gradual phasing-out of the lockdown, having crossed the milestone of 1.9 lakh COVID-19 cases and the country working on ramping-up testing, we will have increased volumes of bio-medical waste, so solutions for safe disposal is critical. Our current irresponsible approach to waste management could also upset the progress achieved so far in reducing and eliminating single-use plastic, recycling waste, solid waste management and efforts of the Swachh Bharat Mission.
There have been reports of illegal dumping of medical waste, masks, gloves on roadsides and water-fronts, mixed waste in household garbage bags, rag pickers rummaging through mountains of waste at landfills, heaps of medical waste at screening centers, government-mandated guidelines on waste disposal not reaching the public, RWAs, and in remote areas and much more.
Reasons for this could be limited awareness however; a collective responsibility is the need of the hour. Extensive campaigns to create awareness, engage and drive action among the general public to clearly re-define the new categories of waste and its segregation, track all the waste generators, strict implementation and monitoring, adequate training and provide all HF, frontline and sanitation workers with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to keep them safe.
The SPCBs and ULBs are responsible for providing technical and regulatory guidance and ensuring all concerned conform to the guidelines of the CPCB for scientific disposal of medical waste. Any violation of COVID-19 waste disposal guidelines by stakeholders must be dealt with sternly.
The CPCB guidelines have marked Common Bio-Medical Waste Treatment Facility (CBWTF) as the key factor to contain the spread of the Coronavirus. Regrettably, the number of CBWTFs in operation is inadequate to meet the overwhelming need for treatment and disposal of bio-medical waste generated to reduce adverse effects that may pose concerns on human health and the environment. As per the BMW Guidelines 2016, all HFs must install captive facilities with incinerators and shredders if CBWTFs are not available in their area.
Installing incinerators for on-site disposal at HFs and upgrading their capacity would be a safe option. This will also cut down on the risk and time taken to transport the waste to far-off CBWTFs.
Few months have elapsed since the pandemic of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, raising questions and challenges regarding waste management practices, procedures, waste treatment, household waste, bio-medical waste, and spreading of virus through water and municipal waste streams. In addition, to the safety and health measures of all involved, healthcare system, environmental impact and the list goes on.
Waste management is an invaluable public health service and struggling to safely manage and dispose of COVID-19 waste in a way that does not compromise human health and the environment is paramount. With an overwhelming death rate, it is important to prioritize our preparedness and commit to our responsibilities to save lives and our economy.
