We need proper waste management protocols as we fight the spread of Coronavirus

We are witnessing a calamitous state of our world and there is no sign of normalcy anytime soon. We hear the birds chirping amidst an empty day and night. The sound of the cocks’ crow no more elicits a wake-up response because individuals are required to stay indoors. Lots of measures and interventions have been put in place globally to contain the spread of COVID-19. There are the likes of the use of nose masks, gloves, coughing and sneezing with tissues all in an attempt to avoid the spread of the coronavirus. It is, however, unclear how the potentially infected waste is managed.

One area that is very important but has arguably been overlooked is the management of household and hospital waste generated in the period of this pandemic. In Ghana, the conventional approach to managing waste is through door-to-door pickups and the use of septic tanks. This poses a huge risk to the service providers and even their customers. Without prejudice to the growing scepticism, there is information on credible authority that, the coronavirus survives of surfaces for c considerable amount of time. For instance, it is found that, the virus survives on nose masks for close to a week. This makes the spread of the virus among the waste handlers is very imminent.

At the household level, individuals dispose waste which includes potentially infected tissues, gloves, masks, etc. into their dustbins for collection. It is however rare to see any of these waste collectors work with nose masks, gloves and hand sanitizers and this possess a very high risk of infection and the spread of the virus.

Similarly, there is usually some spillovers of the waste during the transfer of the waste from the point of collection to the disposal sites. This undoubtedly presents an undeniable risk that needs to be addressed instantly and thoroughly.

In order to holistically tackle the spread of the coronavirus, we need to ensure all the disciplines of our daily lives are reconsidered. At the household level, we must package our waste to limit the exposure of potentially infected waste materials. There is a need to educate and enforce the use of PPEs among waste handlers. Not only that but there is a need for Ghana to develop protocols for managing the waste from the hospitals, laboratories, test centers and all areas in close contact to the COVID-19 cases.

Author:

Julius-Jayson A. Botchway

Julius.jayson@recycleupghana.org

Environmental Education Expert

Team Leader, University of Ghana Plastic Recycling Project (UGPRP)

Project Coordination, Nationwide Waste Education Campaign (NWEC)