Course: English 21003 

Prof. Kevaughn Hunter 

Group 5: Delilah H Beltran, Halle A Mcgrath, Memphis S Washington 

Covid-19 Waste Management 

Introduction (Memphis, this was a coauthored research paper and the one originally assigned the introduction did not complete their assigned portion 

Recycling is a global imperative to reduce extractive processes and reuse the materials which are already circulating in the global economy and environment. Plastics recycling in particular seeks to disrupt the waste cycle of plastics, generally non-biodegradable, lightweight materials, derived from fossil fuels. (Hopewell et al, 2009) Manufacturing plastics is an unsustainable process that uses 4% of global oil and gas production yearly as feedstock for its production and an additional 3-4% is used as energy in the manufacturing process. (Hopewell et al, 2009) Different materials require different industrial recycling processes to breakdown and create new materials. During the global COVID-19 pandemic, there was a proliferation of single-use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including face masks, intended to impede the spread of the virus. (Siwal et al, 2021) An estimated 200 billion face masks entered the global waste cycle and disrupted recycling systems. This surge in both the production and use of PPE, such as face masks, led to cascading environmental issues including increased landfill waste and microplastics entering water systems. To address this influx, researchers have studied the recycling potential of both used and unused face masks comprised of different polymers; the difference between urbane waste management pre- and post- the Covid-19 pandemic; a case study of India’s response to the disposal of biomedical waste, including used/soiled masks; and proposed evidence-based recycling strategies to reduce the ecological burden of face masks and other PPE. (Crespo et al, 2021; Mokhtari and Salemi, 2023; Saxena et al, 2021; and Siwal et al, 2021) This research supports an understanding of recycling as not only an abstract ecological problem, but also a people problem, an industrial processing problem, and a legislative problem. The ecological issues posed by this influx could be resolved by legislation, consumer education, and improved industrial manufacturing and recycling processes to reduce the associated landfill waste and pollution. 

Methodology (Delilah) 

Cristina Crespo et al (2020) conducted a study in order to find a new way to recycle and reuse face mask since the covid-19 pandemic lead to and excessive amount of medical waste. In this study they analyzed both used and unused face mask from different companies. After analyzing the mask to figure out what it was made of, they created a plan to break down these mask and mold them into rings to be repurposed. To begin the study, they used three brands of face mask including Guangzhouyibo Mechanical technology (Nmask-1), Wuhu Koupin protective equipment co from China (Umask-2), and Audix Bitee S.L (Umask-3). In (Table1) these masks were analyzed in order to find out what kind of material they used. In (fig 3) show’s each layer contained in the mask. The three masks were then analyzed to find out the main polymer used in each layer using ATR-FTIR (Attenuated total reflectance – Fourier transform infrared). In (Fig.2) ten Nmask and ten Umask were taken grinded up then processed using a micro twin extruded (DSM xplorer model 2005). The grinded up mask then got molded into a bone structure shape which can be observed in (fig.2). There were some differences when processing both materials. When being melted down the temperature which they had to use were individually selected based on the materials of the specific face mask, they chose to melt the mask at 240 degrees Celsius to avoid degradation of the materials. When looking at (fig.5) the color difference from pNmask to pUmask, the used mask appears darker in color while the unused mask is a bit lighter. The darker color was thought to be because of the use of the mask and the mixture that was used to mold it to the bone structure. The last step to finish the recycling process rings were made as seen in (fig.5). To validate the recycling melting process the FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) was used to analyze the materials.

Mokhtari, M., & Salemi, K. (2023) used a systematic review in order to find the best waste management methods for covid-19 waste before and after the pandemic. To start Mokhtari, M., & Salemi, K. (2023) systematic review there was a specific criterion to be considered for the research. The study’s being included had to investigate the quantitative and qualitative changes in waste produced before and after covid 19 and the studies had to provide the best solutions possible to manage this waste. The criteria that excluded studies from this research include (review studies, repeated studies, studies with different objectives, and lastly, studies that did not provide significant data). The studies used were researched from February 2019 – June 2023 and the websites used to find these studies was (Scopus, web of science, google scholar, SID, PubMed, and science direct). The Key words “waste management-solid waste-covid19” were used when researching studies.  

The search strategy was based on the PICO formula (Population, intervention, comparison, outcome) using medical topic data’s, and the terms used included (“Waste management system, solid waste, handling waste, storage waste, disposal waste, discarding waste, destroying waste, waste quantity, waste composition, Covid 19, SARS-CoV-2 , HCoV-19 , NCoV- 19″.) Once articles were found that provided quantitative and qualitative of waste management their abstract was where studies and then the full text was reviewed. Once the final text was selected, they were then organized into three groups, one with qualitative data and the other with quantitative data, and the last group was studies that were based around methods to discard waste from covid-19. Once all organized the three groups were compared based on the type of waste. When searching the articles that are qualitative and quantitate changes in waste management because of covid 19, the PICO formula was then used again to order the keywords (Populations: Municipal waste, Intervention: covid-19, Comparison: before and after covid 19, Outcome: quantitative and qualitative changes, waste management solutions).  

With the final articles management strategies were extracted. To assess the quality of the studies the Newcastle-Ottawa also known as NOC (Newcastle-Ottawa checklist) checklist a tool to check the quality of organized studies) was used. The Newcastle-Ottawa checklist is based using three elements’ selections, outcome, and comparability. With this the highest score a section can get is 5. After all the scores were taken for each article, they were then categorized to three sections one for qualitative changes in waste management, another for quantitative changes and for the last once it was dedicated to articles that showed the best wase management methods. After analyzing each article and taking the necessary information from each the final report was done. 

Saxena, P., Pradhan, I. P., & Kumar, D. (2022) used a research synthesis to investigate how India has managed medical waste during covid 19. In this study xena, P., Pradhan, I. P., & Kumar, D. (2022) obtained the information used from sources published by WHO (world health organization) along with springer, google scholar, research gate. To show the flaws in the BMW guideline information was gathered from “(Gap analysis compliance report, CPCB, 2020 and COVID 19 Medical waste Status Report May 2021).” In these papers highlight the differences between India’s state and the union territories based on these 12 points. “All healthcare and biomedical waste generation inventory,  Authorization of all healthcare facilities, such as those without beds HCFs,  Assist in the establishment of an adequate number of Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facilities (CBWTFs) to service the entire State or all HCFs, Establishment of the State Regulatory Authority and the District Monitoring Committee, Barcode system implementation status, Oversight of healthcare facilities other than hospitals/clinics, such as veterinary hospitals, animal shelters, and AYUSH clinics, Monitoring SPCB/PCC infrastructures, Staff capacity building of SPCB/PCC personnel and healthcare facilities,  Installation of OCEMS by CBMWTs as a self-monitoring tool and data transmission to SPCB/PCC servers, Preparation of Annual Compliance Status Reports, Common Facility Compliance (emission/discharge norms, bar- coding, appropriate operation, and so on), Healthcare Facility Compliance (Segregation, pre-treatment, on- site storage, barcoding, and other restrictions, among others).” Saxena, P., Pradhan, I. P., & Kumar, D. (2022). To narrow it down the list the authors chose to only use five from this list because the data for them worked for all of the states talked about.” Facilities for the treatment of common biomedical waste (CBMWTFs) are available, Adequacy of existing treatment facility, Use of deep burial, Training and awareness programs conducted, Implementation of CPCB Waste tracking App.” Saxena, P., Pradhan, I. P., & Kumar, D. (2022). 

Results (Delilah) 

In Cristina Crespo et al (2020), study using both used and unused mask in order to find a possible new way of recycling, results showed the two different masks have different materials because some were used, and some were unused which will cause it to be hard to determine what specific melting mix to use when recycling. The differences appeared the most in the vibration bands which were around 1713, 1238, and 10917, which are the bands closer vibration with the ester group(-C=0(0)). These bands were more shown with the unused mask sample than with the used sample. The bands were characterized as Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymers (a polymer that goes through polymerization of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol which is used mostly in textile production). These PET polymers were found in certain parts of the mask. Then a very weak band 1730/cm of the FTIR spectrum of rPPn which was thought to be because of a certain type of degradation of the polymer from the carbonyl groups. Next was thermal analysis which was done by DSC (dynamic stable control) to solidify the thermal properties from the mixture. When measuring density, the pNmask had a density of 0.92g/cm^3 and pUmask had a density of 0.99g/cm^3 this is also the same with blending materials.  pNmask, pUmask, and RPP has shown up to 25% deformation in plastic these have not been able to be analyzed in the recycled material because of PP, PE, AND PET. When looking at the materials from (pNmask and pUmask) they show less deformation and maximum stress in comparison to the recycled PP. The mechanical properties of the materials showed that the PET might be the reason that it has more maximum stress and modulus. It is assumed that the materials of the three polymers from the mask could be made of different materials from the RPP. 

In M Mokhtari, M., & Salemi, K. (2023). systematic review results show that waste in that household, face mask, and plastic waste has increased through the pandemic although there was not one method that worked for every type of medical waste there were chosen best management methods for each different kind of medical waste. For the first two categories qualitative and quantitative changes table 1 shows the key findings for the authors that investigated each waste type, what year’s the investigation was done in, what type of waste, the quantity and quality changes in waste including the exact percentage waste either increased or decreased in, the reasons for why these numbers are either higher or lower, and last the location in which these investigations and studies were done in.

For the remaining category of best waste management since this has been a huge concern all over the world since covid-19 hit (Table 2) explains all the findings for the designated articles on waste management solutions. This table breaks down how different parts of the world has chosen to discard different waste types and has shown that although there is not one singular method best suited to manage it all these are the best found for each type of medical waste that has increased since covid-19. In this table like in table 1 the Authors who’s articles were used in the next column is the year which they investigated in the third column is the waste type that is being talked about next to that is a small summary on the method used to get rid of the specific type of waste and in the last column is the place which these methods are used in. 

In Saxena, P., Pradhan, I. P., & Kumar, D. (2022). research synthesis to insure that bio-medical waste was discarded properly during/after covid 19 the CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) has added rules monthly since March of 2020 on how to dispose bio-medical trash. These rules are to make sure the waste is disposed of safely. Along with the monthly rules the CPCB has also recommended how to transport and store bio-medical waste to disposal facilities. These ‘‘biomedical waste treatment and disposal facilities.” Sole purpose is to safely manage all the waste from hospitals and other healthcare organizations. In (fig 1) India’s medical waste amount from January of 2021 – May of 2021. According to the 2016 BMW waste management rules all healthcare organizations must use a six-color coordinated disposal system (fig 2) along with all waste being transported to these disposal facilities within 48 hours. As covid cases increased from June 2020 – May 2021 the CBWTF (common biomedical waste treatment facilities) have decreased in certain sates however in others such as Karnataka and Meghalaya etc have increased. However, the results have shown that this waste management plan are more successful compared to others like the captive facilities in other states. Although this treatment was successful in the beginning around May of 2021 India had the newest cases of covid 19. This meant that their bio-medical waste went up 33%. This put the country’s already high bio-medical waste over what they could handle. Since the cases got worst monitoring how the medical waste was disposed of became very difficult. Things like quarantine camps and isolated centers made it impossible to keep track of the CPCB mandated that all waste generators submit their generation and treatment statistics regularly. The CPCB shortly after made a Mobil app in order to monitor waste. The CPCB also have organized training to share awareness on how to properly dispose of medical waste.  

Discussion (Memphis) 

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on recycling can be seen at every part of the lifecycle of PPE, from manufacturing to hospital and personal use to municipal recycling programs to recycling processors. Cristina Crespo et al. (2020) meticulously assessed three face mask brands, identifying material composition variations between unused and used masks. These distinctions, observed through FTIR and mechanical property analysis, raise concerns about efficient large-scale recycling. The study highlighted challenges in identifying and categorizing materials, crucial for effective waste management strategies during COVID-19. Limitations in identifying specific polymer blends could hinder generalizability as it pertains to processing in the recycling process of diverse mask types. This implicates a wide-reaching issue of differentiation as part of collection and sorting process prior to actual processing within a recycling facility, in cases where this is not possible materials may be poorly sorted and not actually be recycled into new materials.  

Mokhtari & Salemi conducted a comprehensive review assessing quantitative and qualitative changes in waste management pre- and post-COVID-19. Their systematic approach uncovered various waste management strategies. However, limitations in the quality assessment via the Newcastle-Ottawa checklist might impact the reliability of identified strategies. Despite this, their study offers a valuable overview of COVID-19’s impact on waste management, providing insights into potential solutions. 

Siwal et al. (2021) aligns with earlier studies shedding light on the complexities of managing PPE waste and waste disposal strategies amidst the COVID-19 era. Prior research has also underscored the crucial necessity for enhanced evaluations in waste management methodologies. These insights collectively provide a pathway toward more effective waste handling during global health crises, emphasizing the imperative need for innovative solutions and comprehensive assessments. By acknowledging the challenges faced in recycling PPE materials and advocating for better quality assessments in waste management analyses, this study contributes to a growing body of knowledge aimed at refining strategies for more efficient and sustainable waste management practices in the context of unprecedented health emergencies. 

 Saxena et al. (2023) examined the management of biomedical waste during and after the COVID-19 outbreak in India, evaluating the efficacy of disposal strategies enforced by the CPCB. Monthly regulations were implemented to ensure safe disposal, transportation, and storage of medical waste in designated facilities. However, despite efforts to manage waste generated by healthcare organizations using color-coded disposal systems, the surge in COVID-19 cases led to a 33% increase in biomedical waste by May 2021, overwhelming the baseline waste handling capacities of the municipalities studied. To address this, the CPCB mandated waste generators to submit disposal statistics regularly and developed a mobile app for monitoring. Training programs were organized to promote proper waste disposal awareness. Despite initial success, the escalating cases strained waste management, underscoring the need for enhanced monitoring and adaptive strategies to tackle unprecedented surges in biomedical waste during pandemics.  

Conclusion (Memphis, this was a coauthored research paper and the one originally assigned the conclusion did not complete their assigned portion 

The complexities of recycling, particularly plastics, are a global necessity to mitigate extraction of materials such as fossil fuels and to utilize materials already circulating in the economy. The COVID-19 pandemic intensified the use of single-use PPE, such as polymer-based face masks, disrupting recycling systems and amplifying environmental concerns like increased landfill waste and microplastic pollution. Studies by Crespo et al. (2021), Mokhtari & Salemi (2023), Siwal et al. (2021), and Saxena et al. (2022) explored facets of this issue. Crespo et al.’s mask material analysis revealed challenges in large-scale recycling due to the variety of materials and difficulty identifying specific polymer blends found in PPE, which is essential for effective waste management during COVID-19. Mokhtari & Salemi’s review highlighted varied waste management strategies pre- and post-COVID-19, although limitations in quality assessment methods might affect reliability. Siwal et al.’s research echoed the need for improved waste management evaluation, emphasizing the necessity for innovative technical solutions to make recycling more economically viable and thorough assessments alongside the many processes involved in recycling. Saxena et al.’s study scrutinized India’s biomedical waste disposal during the pandemic. Despite CPCB regulations, biomedical waste surges proved to surpass local waste handling capacities. The CPCB responded with regular disposal data submission mandates, a mobile app for monitoring, and awareness programs. Despite this, cases continued to strain the waste management system, necessitating further adaptive strategies to be developed for future pandemics. 

 Altogether, these studies underscore the complex nature of recycling during global health crises, emphasizing the urgency for innovative science- and policy-focused solutions, refined assessments, and adaptive waste management strategies. Addressing these challenges demands a multifaceted approach involving legislation, education, industrial reform, and technological innovations to minimize ecological burdens and foster sustainable recycling practices. 

Work cited 

Crespo, C., Ibarz, G., Sáenz, C., Gonzalez, P., & Roche, S. (2021). Study of Recycling Potential of FFP2 Face Masks and Characterization of the Plastic Mix-Material Obtained. A Way of Reducing Waste in Times of Covid-19. Waste and Biomass Valorization, 12(12), 6423–6432. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-021-01476-0 

Mokhtari, M., & Salemi, K. (2023). Investigating the quantitative and qualitative changes of municipal waste and management strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review. Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, 8, 100489-. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscee.2023.100489 

Saxena, P., Pradhan, I. P., & Kumar, D. (2022). Redefining bio medical waste management during COVID- 19 in india: A way forward. Materials Today : Proceedings, 60, 849–858. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2021.09.507 

Siwal, S. S., Chaudhary, G., Saini, A. K., Kaur, H., Saini, V., Mokhta, S. K., Chand, R., Chandel, U. K., Christie, G., & Thakur, V. K. (2021). Key ingredients and recycling strategy of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Towards sustainable solution for the COVID-19 like pandemics. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 9(5), 106284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2021.106284