Preventing a mountain of wastes

Written by Patricia Marie Reyes

Published April 14, 2022

Face masks, gloves and personal protective equipment (PPEs) can be seen everywhere these days. Whether it is inside malls, on the streets, at hospitals, or any other place in the country, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the constant use of medical equipment for their protective benefits. However, once discarded, medical waste adds to the mounting problems of safety, pollution, and environmental concerns in the country.

Government officials and health experts have raised the alarm over the need for a solution to the threat of medical wastes.

Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) Hazardous Waste Management Section Chief Geri Sanez told Rappler that from June 2020 to June 2021, a total amount of 634,687.73 metric tons of medical wastes had been produced. Yet, not all medical wastes are properly disposed of. Some pollute the lands and the waters of the country, endangering the creatures living in it, including Filipino citizens.

Improper medical waste disposal can endanger human health. Last January 24, seven children from Catanduanes tested positive for COVID-19 after allegedly playing with discarded medical wastes near their village. Medical wastes used for COVID-19 protection such as face masks, face shields, gloves, and PPEs are considered to be “hazardous” because these wastes may still contain COVID-19 and may still be infectious. Garbage collector Anthony Jumadiao told Rappler how he fears for his safety as he gathers household medical wastes every day. These wastes are commonly mixed with non-medical wastes. He is worried that as he collects these medical wastes, he may become infected with COVID-19 and pass it on to his family. Waste segregation is not a common practice in Filipino households. It has been a habit to simply throw face masks and other medical wastes in trash bins alongside other household trash. This practice now endangers the lives of garbage collectors in the country.

There is also the matter of COVID-19 wastes collected from hospitals. These wastes have a different route compared to household medical wastes. Hospital wastes go to Transporters, Storage, and Disposal (TSD) facilities. However, DENR-Environmental Management Bureau Assistant Director Visminda Osorio said last September 2021 that with the amount of collected medical wastes, the current number of TSD facilities will not be enough. Based on 2020 data, there are only 135 registered TSD facilities in the country with the Zamboanga Peninsula having no facility at all. This means that even COVID-19 wastes that undergo proper disposal are becoming a problem.

Furthermore, aside from being a threat to humans, medical wastes can also be a threat to the environment and to animals. Last March 2021, in Anilao, Batangas, single-used face masks were found in coral reefs. Several face masks were also reported littered around Manila Bay and a watershed in Davao City. Former DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu made a statement last May 2021 that improper face mask disposal may result in the entanglement of animals, both terrestrial and aquatic. Creatures may get trapped in the ear straps of face masks. Additionally, medical wastes thrown in rivers, lakes, or other bodies of water have harmful effects on the ecosystem. Greenpeace Philippines campaigner Marian Ledesma discussed that microplastics from single-use face masks can be eaten by sea creatures and then consumed by humans. The country is already suffering from plastic pollution and the addition of COVID-19 waste only intensifies the urgency for a solution.

Protection from COVID-19 is important, but proper plans for waste disposal should also be addressed. Communicative strategies must be done by local government units (LGUs) and the national government to inform the public on proper management and segregation of medical wastes. Additional TSD facilities should also be a priority because this will address the growing amount of medical wastes. Furthermore, environmental experts also advocate for more eco-friendly alternatives for COVID-19 protection such as reusable PPEs and natural or plant-based face masks.

As the country continues to survive under COVID-19, Filipinos should be mindful of what we throw away. The world’s ecosystems are connected. In one way or another, what people use and throw away comes back again. Therefore, being knowledgeable and responsive will ensure that in the future, we will not be facing a mountain of medical wastes.