Emanating challenges in urban and healthcare waste management in Isfahan, Iran after the outbreak of COVID-19

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aims to investigate the emanating challenges in urban and healthcare waste management in Isfahan, after the new Coronavirus outbreak. Production of ‘dry wastes’ in Isfahan, with a population of more than 1.9 million, has increased during the pandemic. Personal protective equipments (PPEs) including face masks, single-use gloves and face shields are an emerging group of materials in Isfahan’s waste stream. On average, Isfahanian residents have daily discarded over 1.49 and 2.98 million pieces of facemasks and plastic gloves, respectively, after the new Coronavirus pandemic. Overall production of hospital wastes in Isfahan slightly decreased during the pandemic. COVID-19 related wastes in hospitals are mainly treated by wet autoclave method, then collected and transferred to the Sejzy site to be landfilled. Waste separation, recycling and composting programs have been banned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and all collected MSW are directly disposed of at Sejzy disposal site. Composting as the main disposal method for 60%–70% of the MSW in Isfahan has been terminated; therefore landfilling of urban wastes has dramatically escalated by 3.6 times. Appropriate urban waste management protocols must be provided to restart safe separation, recycling and composting programs to reduce pressure on land for disposal, while practicing safe waste management measures to minimize the possibility of the spread of the viral disease.