The impact of COVID-19 is globally transforming the way we live, both on a local scale as well as a global one. The biggest changes are impacting each one of us in the way we are handling our normal routines day by day.
Due to the various measures introduced in response to COVID-19, there has been an increased production of waste especially by hospitals, healthcare facilities and individuals all aimed towards reducing the impacts. These interventions are have resulted in the massive production of waste especially medical waste such as masks, gloves, gowns and other protective equipment that are proving more and more difficult to dispose. There is also a large increase in the amount of single use plastics being produced.
While national and local interventions are largely focused on protecting lives and economies, management of hazardous waste is also essential to minimize long-term risks to human and environmental health. When not managed soundly, infected medical waste could be subject to uncontrolled dumping, leading to public health risks, and to open burning or uncontrolled incineration, leading to the release of toxins in the environment and to secondary transmission of diseases to humans. Other wastes can reach water sources and add to riverine and marine pollution.
In Kenya, waste management has been a huge challenge both at Household level, consumer level and industry level. The government through the Ministry of Environment and forestry has undertaken several initiatives on waste management. The ministry is also currently developing a waste management policy and bill which will harmonize the provisions of the constitution and existing laws including the lessons learnt over the years. The bill and policy which was developed through a highly consultative process, seeks to deliver a strategic and harmonized approach to engage all stakeholders in waste management.
The PATRA foundation is continuously working with our partners and stakeholders in awareness creation on management of medical waste and disposal of the same waste at all levels.
It is equally important to note that COVID-19 will lead to a greater production and consumption of household and personal health related products, that could be single-use and contain valuable resources like plastics, textiles, metals, electronics. This therefore means that promotion of washable and ironable masks will play a huge role in reducing the number
We are also closely working with the communities in promoting of sorting at source for ease of collection and disposal to avoid littering or uncontrolled incineration causing impacts to human health, ecosystem quality, biodiversity, including impacts on soil, rivers, coastal lines and in the marine system.
The Foundation is also working with its partners in coming up with effective and inclusive guidelines, policy and legislation in-order to help countries have a stable legal and institutional basis to better respond to future waste emergencies such as the COVID-19, and to clarify measures to be taken.
The management of solid waste is an important concern in developing and emergency conditions, disposing off waste in a responsible safe and ethical manner is extremely important if we are to safeguard our environment and safety of humanity.