Editorial: Covid-19 wastes

Editorial: Covid-19 wastes

THE coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic has made an impact on the environment -- both the good and the bad.

For the good, we saw how nature took a rest from the effects of human activities, especially when restrictions or lockdowns were in place. It was reported by different media outfits how the air in major cities have cleared when people were barred from traveling. There were also reports of wildlife becoming more active with fewer people around.

However, Covid-19 pandemic is also worsening an existing environmental problem -- waste.

Due to the pandemic, we saw an increase in the use of personal protective equipment, which uses mainly plastics and other non-recyclables as a material.

In a June 11 article by the World Economic Forum, it reported that "Waterlogged masks, gloves, hand sanitizer bottles, and other coronavirus waste are already being found on our seabeds and washed up on our beaches, joining the day-to-day detritus in our ocean ecosystems."

According to Ocean Conservancy, "Every year, 8 million metric tons of plastics enter our ocean on top of the estimated 150 million metric tons that currently circulate our marine environments."

This is a worrying development. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, there have been efforts by groups and individuals in reducing plastic wastes going to our oceans. These groups and individuals have lobbied for policies for the reduction of the use of plastic wastes and its regulations. Their efforts were not in vain as more and more people have become aware of the detrimental effects of plastics and other non-recyclables to the environment.

Sadly, since the pandemic, we can see that more and more medical wastes are starting to find its way in our oceans.

Therefore it is important for the environment arm of the national government or the local government unit to come up with an effective means to dispose of medical waste properly. Likewise, it should provide venues for the general public as to where they can dispose of properly of their single-use face masks, face shields, and other personal protective equipment.

During the Covid-19, let us not only be mindful of our health but also the health of mother nature. Let us remember that mankind's abuse of mother nature also led to this pandemic. Let us learn from that.

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