Emerging Technologies for Effective Disposal and Sustainable Management of Biomedical Waste (BMW) During COVID-19 Pandemic

The outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic has deeply impacted every aspect of human life, from lifestyle changes to economy, especially the healthcare sector. The escalating production of biomedical waste (BMW) in hospitals and quarantine centres has proven to be a challenging facet for management authorities which can be a source of viral and bacterial infection if not treated properly. The Covid-19 BMW such as personal protective equipment (PPE), masks, gloves, and face shields cause microplastic pollution in the environment. The presence of microplastic in the aquatic environment has already been reported as a serious problem for the past few years, but the extensive use of BMW also deteriorates air and soil quality. Therefore, safe and sustainable management of Covid-19 contaminated BMW is precisely essential to break the disease transmission and to reduce human health and environmental risk. The health workers, municipal workers, rag-pickers and other persons who are involved directly or indirectly in the Covid-19 war are at high risk of contamination & therefore disposal of BMW is needed through an efficient mechanism. Management of BMW can be achieved by using various techniques viz. Thermal Technique, Chemical Disinfection Technique, Carbonization, Gasification, Shredding, Bioremediation, Green Technology etc. The present study gives emphasis on different disposal strategies and advanced technologies for effective management of BMW; so that it can establish a safe, clean and green environment and also will be helpful in preventing the transmission of microbial diseases through biomedical waste.