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. 2022 Dec;16(6):2358-2362.
doi: 10.1017/dmp.2021.171. Epub 2021 Jun 7.

War on Waste: Challenges and Experiences in COVID-19 Waste Management

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

War on Waste: Challenges and Experiences in COVID-19 Waste Management

Naveen R Gowda et al. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2022 Dec.

Abstract

Objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has posed formidable challenges, including overwhelming biomedical waste management. Guidelines have been rapidly changing along with the mounting pressure of waste generation.

Methods: These challenges were managed by smart re-engineering of structure and processes for the desired outcomes. Dedicated staff, in personal protective equipment with appropriate training, were deployed to collect waste using dedicated trolleys. A dedicated route plan was drawn with a dedicated elevator meant for COVID-19. A new temporary holding area was created. Dedicated trucks with requisite labels were deployed to transport COVID-19 waste to a common biomedical waste treatment facility. Communication challenges were addressed through timely circulars, which were further reinforced and reiterated during various on-going training programs.

Results: Before the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, the amount of biomedical waste generated was 1.93 kg/bed/day; currently, the quantity of COVID-19 biomedical waste generated is 7.76 kg/COVID bed/day. Daily COVID-19 waste generation data are maintained and uploaded in an android application monitored by Central Pollution Control Board, Government of India. To date, none of the workers handling COVID-19 waste has acquired health-care associated COVID-19 infection, which reflects on the soundness of the new system and the infection control practices in the institute.

Conclusions: 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; biomedical waste; healthcare re-engineering; 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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