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. 2021 Jun 7:1-13.
doi: 10.1017/dmp.2021.171. Online ahead of print.

War on waste: Challenges and experiences in COVID-19 waste management

Naveen R Gowda  1 , Vijaydeep Siddharth  2 , Khalid Inquillabi  1 , D K Sharma  3
Affiliations

War on waste: Challenges and experiences in COVID-19 waste management

Naveen R Gowda et al. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. .

Abstract

COVID-19 has posed formidable challenges including overwhelming bio-medical waste. Guidelines have been rapidly changing along with mounting pressure of waste generation. These challenges were managed by smart re-engineering of structure and processes for desired outcomes. Dedicated staff in PPE with appropriate training were deployed to collect waste using dedicated trolleys. A dedicated route plan was drawn with a dedicated lift meant for COVID-19. A new temporary holding area was created. Dedicated trucks with requisite labels were deployed to transport COVID-19 waste to CBWTF. Communication challenge was addressed through timely circulars, which were further reinforced and reiterated during various on-going training programs.Before the onset of COVID-19 pandemic Bio-Medical Waste generated was 1.93kg/Bed/Day and currently the quantum of COVID-19 biomedical waste generated is 7.76Kg/COVID Bed/Day. Daily COVID-19 waste generation data is maintained and uploaded in an android Application. Till date none of the worker handling COVID-19 waste has acquired Healthcare associated COVID-19 infection which reflects on the soundness of the new system and the infection control practices in the Institute. A responsive leadership harmonizing with a robust communication and training system has augmented timely re-engineering of structure and processes for better outcomes in the war on waste.

Keywords: COVID-19 waste; Healthcare reengineering; bio-medical waste; waste management.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Prepandemic biomedical waste management process vis a vis process re-engineering for handling COVID 19 biomedical waste.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
The CPCB COVID-19 BWM app for daily data uploading of COVID 19 biomedical waste data.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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