Title: Waste management during COVID-19 pandemic: could it be time-bomb?

Authors: Yudha Gusti Wibowo; Bimastyaji Surya Ramadan; Machmudin Fitra Miftahadi; Indriyani Rachman; Nurani Ikhlas

Addresses: Department of Mining Engineering, Faculty of Industry and Technology, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, Lampung, 35365, Indonesia ' Environmental Sustainability Research Group, Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, 50275, Indonesia ' Graduate School of Environmental Engineering, The University of Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu, 808-0135, Japan ' Graduate School of Environmental Engineering, The University of Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu, 808-0135, Japan ' Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Institut Teknologi Pembangunan Surabaya, 60188, Indonesia

Abstract: SARS-CoV-2 has severe problems in the world with both public and economic health aspects. Therefore, the potential for virus transmission through various media needs to be anticipated in various ways, such as IoT-based monitoring systems, quarantine/lockdown and social distancing policies. These policies have an impact on waste conditions in the right region. This article is intended to find out how to transfer SARS-CoV-2 through domestic and non-domestic waste media. Besides, study the policies taken from an area at the SARS-CoV-2 meeting on their waste management. The results of literature studies that have been carried out related to the use of online media increased following the implementation of social distancing policies. Disposable plastic and cardboard waste that is often used as food wrappers are increasing. Disposable medical waste as personal protective equipment also increases the incineration capacity to stabilise the infectious waste. Various countries have issued various waste management strategies during the pandemic. However, future studies are needed to evaluate the management system's effectiveness that is free of viruses and does not become a time-bomb in the mass spread of viruses through waste.

Keywords: personal protective equipment; PPE; SARS-CoV-2; single-use plastic; SUP; social distancing; waste management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2024.138884

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2024 Vol.34 No.1, pp.86 - 104

Accepted: 19 Jan 2022
Published online: 03 Jun 2024 *

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