COVID-19 Related Wastes and the Informal Waste Recycling Sector

When: 17 June 2021 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM (UTC)

Where: Online; register here

What: Within a short span of time, the COVID-19 pandemic has engulfed the entire world, affecting more than 206 countries and territories. In the healthcare sector, the caseload of patients surged due to the pandemic, leading to increased production of hazardous healthcare waste for countries with or without adequate medical waste management systems. One year after the declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic, challenges posed by COVID-19 related waste still remain.

In the past year, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has supported the Member States to manage COVID-19 medical waste in an environmentally sound manner. Through the global webinar series, guidance notes on waste management, rapid needs assessment, and remote technical assistance, UNEP has gained valuable lessons learned from addressing environmental linkages of COVID-19.

Join the Rapid Support on COVID-19 Related Waste Management Technical Assistance Training Series, a series of technical assistance training sessions on the challenges and lessons learned on effective approaches towards managing medical waste:

1. Effective Management Practices for COVID-19 related Healthcare Waste

2. COVID-19 Related Wastes and the Informal Waste Recycling Sector

3. Appropriate Technologies to Address COVID-19 related Healthcare Waste Management

Second series session: 

COVID-19 Related Wastes and the Informal Waste Recycling Sector: The informal waste recycling sector, also referred to as waste-picking, was a reality in many countries even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. There has been a significant increase in the types and volumes of COVID-19 related wastes during the pandemic, as well as an increase in their uncontrolled disposal. By handling these wastes without adequate personal protection, those involved in the informal waste sector now face an elevated risk of health impacts including contracting preventable infectious diseases. 

Further, waste-pickers around the globe face severe economic hardship from the pandemic. For example, due to the falling price of oil there is less demand for recycled plastics as it is now cheaper to produce virgin plastic, and generally less material is being recycled as priority has shifted to collection and disposal of greater volumes of waste - again as a result of the pandemic.

This training session covers the topic of COVID-19 related wastes and their impact on informal waste-picking practices. The session will also outline some of the safe practices that should be incorporated to reduce the potential health and safety risks of the people involved.

Agenda: 

• Welcome
• Moderator: BR Ravishankar (Ravi)
• Michael Cowing: Overview of the informal waste recycling sector and its potential health hazards; best practices and mitigation options for the informal waste recycling sector
• Saeeda Gouhari: Informal waste recycling: current practices in Afghanistan
• Q&A
• Closing remarks