Huge amounts of COVID medical waste constitutes health hazard: WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has cautioned that the massive amount of garbage created in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic constitutes a hazard to human and environmental health.

In a new report released on Tuesday, the United Nations health agency warned that discarded syringes, used test kits, and obsolete vaccine bottles had piled up to create tens of thousands of tonnes of medical waste, putting a major burden on healthcare waste management systems.

According to the 71-page report, between March 2020 and November 2021, a major portion of the 87,000 tonnes of personal safety equipment (PPE) ordered through a UN portal ended up as waste.

Furthermore, over 140 million test kits have been sent, with the potential to generate 2,600 tonnes of mostly plastic garbage and enough chemical waste to fill one-third of an Olympic swimming pool.

A total of eight billion vaccine doses were delivered globally, resulting in 144,000 tonnes of waste in the form of glass vials, syringes, needles, and safety boxes.

Despite the fact that the WHO does not suggest wearing gloves when injecting vaccines, the research stated that this appeared to be a regular practice. It was estimated that each health professional in the United Kingdom discards an average of 50 pairs of gloves each week into the general trash system.

"It is critical to offer appropriate PPE to health care employees. But it's equally critical to make sure it can be used safely without harming the environment," said Michael Ryan, WHO's head of emergencies.

The discarded material can cause burns and expose health professionals to needle-stick injuries and disease-causing bacteria, as well as populations near poorly-managed landfills, which can be harmed by contaminated air from burning waste, poor water quality, or disease-carrying bugs.

The report did not name specific locations where build-ups occurred, but it did mention issues such as insufficient formal waste treatment and disposal in rural India and high amounts of faecal sludge from quarantine facilities in Madagascar.

The UN health body advocated for change and more investment, including a reduction in packaging use, more sensible use of personal protective equipment, and investment in non-burn waste treatment technology.