19. COVID-19 Biomedical Waste Disposal Management Challenges, Solutions and Prospects During and Post COVID-19 Pandemic

Covid-19 biomedical waste poses a massive challenge for hospital and government systems. The significant increase in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients during the epidemic has posed a serious threat to human health and the environment. The Covid-19 pandemic has created potential complications in various areas, including waste management systems. Separating Covid-19 waste from other biomedical waste is difficult, leading to environmental changes in marine environments, affecting the marine food source, and disrupting the socio-economy of worldwide inhabitants. Therefore, many categories of biomedical waste may be related to SARS-CoV-2 contagion. Proper segregation and management of different types of waste from homes, hospitals, isolation facilities, and operational supervision are critical in preventing the spread of the disease. There is an urgent need for proper forecasting at all stages of waste management, especially in countries with insufficient facilities. The increase in biomedical waste from the medical sector is due to the demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) and single-use plastics, resulting from the rising hospitalization rates as the infection spread drastically. The SARS-CoV-2 has had a significant impact on the global emergency and sustainability areas, particularly in Municipal solid waste (MSW) and biomedical waste (BMW). The objective of this book chapter is to highlight the challenges, solutions, and prospects of SARS-CoV-2 biomedical waste disposal during and post the epidemic.