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 Bouallègue, Darnal Hari Kumar, Vipin Kumar Sharma, Mohammad Nazmul Hasan Maziz, Kathiresan V. Sathasivam, Dhanalekshmi Unnikrishnan Meenakshi, Neeraj Kumar Fuloria
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.