Review article

https://doi.org/10.17559/TV-20220216083522

Analysis of Trends and Challenges of a Worldwide Solid Waste Management with Emphasis on Covid-19 Pandemic - A Review

Goran Sabol orcid.org/0000-0001-5650-9031 ; Polytechnic of Međimurje in Čakovec, Bana Josipa Jelačića 25a, 40000, Čakovec
Darko Kiš orcid.org/0000-0002-9948-2040 ; Faculty of Agriculture, Vladimira Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek
Sanja Kalambura orcid.org/0000-0002-4337-4892 ; University of Applied Sciences Velika Gorica, Zagrebačka Ul. 5, 10410, Velika Gorica

Abstract

Low collection coverage, lack of a safe and appropriate destination for all generated waste and pollution caused by inadequate waste disposal procedures are probably one of the most significant threats in the current decade (2021-2030). At the beginning of 2020, a new and unforeseen challenge emerged - the COVID-19 pandemic. This article provides a brief overview of the state of waste management in the world, identifying significant challenges that arose during the pandemic. As the situation changed daily in all regions of the world, many local authorities were obliged to react urgently and adjust the current way of waste management. People's habits have changed and the mandatory wearing of protective masks has increased the daily amount of plastic waste worldwide by approximately 21 000+ tons. This represented an additional burden for already under capacitated waste management systems. Also, waste collected from households in many parts of the world had to be treated as medical waste due to the COVID-19 positive people. There was a drastic increase in the daily amount of generated medical waste due to this, which in some cases was up to 6 times higher than usual.

Keywords

COVID-19 pandemic; management practices; solid waste; sustainability; waste management

Hrčak ID:

281697

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/281697

Publication date:

15.10.2022.

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