COVID-19 Biomedical Plastics Wastes—Challenges and Strategies for Curbing the Environmental Disaster

Siddharthan Selvaraj, Somasundaram Prasadh, Shivkanya Fuloria, Vetriselvan Subramaniyan, Mahendran Sekar, Abdelmoty M. Ahmed, Belgacem Bouallegue, Darnal Hari Kumar, Vipin Kumar Sharma, Mohammad Nazmul Hasan Maziz, Kathiresan V. Sathasivam, Dhanalekshmi U. Meenakshi and Neeraj Kumar Fuloria
Additional contact information
Siddharthan Selvaraj: Faculty of Dentistry, AIMST University, Bedong 08100, Malaysia
Somasundaram Prasadh: National Dental Center Singapore, 5 Second Hospital Avenue, Singapore 168938, Singapore
Shivkanya Fuloria: Faculty of Pharmacy, AIMST University, Bedong 08100, Malaysia
Vetriselvan Subramaniyan: Faculty of Medicine, Bioscience and Nursing, MAHSA University, Kuala Lumpur 42610, Malaysia
Mahendran Sekar: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Royal College of Medicine Perak, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh 30450, Malaysia
Abdelmoty M. Ahmed: Department of Computer Engineering, College of Computer Science, King Khalid University Abha, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
Belgacem Bouallegue: Department of Computer Engineering, College of Computer Science, King Khalid University Abha, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
Darnal Hari Kumar: Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Monash University, No. 3 Jalan Masjid Abu Bakar, Johor Bahru 80100, Malaysia
Vipin Kumar Sharma: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Gurukul Kangri (Deemed to Be University), Haridwar 249404, India
Mohammad Nazmul Hasan Maziz: Faculty of Medicine, Bioscience and Nursing, MAHSA University, Kuala Lumpur 42610, Malaysia
Kathiresan V. Sathasivam: Faculty of Applied Science, AIMST University, Bedong 08100, Malaysia
Dhanalekshmi U. Meenakshi: College of Pharmacy, National University of Science and Technology, Muscat 130, Oman
Neeraj Kumar Fuloria: Faculty of Pharmacy, AIMST University, Bedong 08100, Malaysia

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: The rise of the COVID-19 outbreak has made handling plastic waste much more difficult. Our superior, hyper-hygienic way of life has changed our behavioural patterns, such as the use of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), the increased desire for plastic-packaged food and commodities, and the use of disposable utensils, as a result of the fear of transmission. The constraints and inefficiencies of our current waste management system, in dealing with our growing reliance on plastic, could worsen its mismanagement and leakage into the environment, causing a new environmental crisis. A sustainable, systemic, and hierarchical plastic management plan, which clearly outlines the respective responsibilities as well as the socioeconomic and environmental implications of these actions, is required to tackle the problem of plastic pollution. It will necessitate action strategies tailored to individual types of plastic waste and country demand, as well as increased support from policymakers and the general public. The situation of biomedical plastic wastes during the COVID-19 epidemic is alarming. In addition, treatment of plastic waste, sterilisation, incineration, and alternative technologies for transforming bio-plastic waste into value-added products were discussed, elaborately. Our review would help to promote sustainable technologies to manage plastic waste, which can only be achieved with a change in behaviour among individuals and society, which might help to safeguard against going from one disaster to another in the coming days.

Keywords: plastic pollution; waste management; COVID-19; personal protective equipment; biomedical waste (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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