Challenges and suggestions for municipal solid waste management during the global COVID-19 outbreak

Year 2023, Volume: 12 Issue: 1, 72 - 81, 15.01.2023

Hülya Durmaz Bekmezci , Zehra Şapcı Ayaş

https://doi.org/10.28948/ngumuh.1150538

Abstract

COVID-19 turned into a global epidemic in a short time, due to its rapid rate of infection and its longevity on surfaces. Its rapid spread caused problems in the municipal services especially Waste Management. There have been serious increases in the amount of protective equipment such as disposable masks, gloves, goggles and the amount of infected waste from hospital intensive care units. This put pressure on existing waste disposal systems. National and international circulars were published to prevent the spread of the epidemic. In this process emerged innovative studies such as biodegradable plastics, system optimization studies for environmentally and economically appropriate disposal methods, the creation of appropriate management plans, and data generation, storage, processing. In this study, during the epidemic, Waste Management problems, its environmental and economic effects, the related legal regulations, the recommended disposal methods and innovative studies were examined. Considering the increasing population and the long-term effects of climate change, this epidemic is not the first and will not be the last. Innovative studies carried out with the momentum gained in this period should continue without losing speed and their use within the sector should be expanded.

Keywords

COVID-19 Outbreak, Municipal Solid Waste Management, Medical Waste Management

Küresel COVİD-19 salgın döneminde kentsel katı atık yönetiminde karşılaşılan güçlükler ve öneriler

Abstract

COVİD-19 hızlı bulaşma oranı ve yüzeylerde uzun süre kalabilmesi nedeni ile kısa sürede küresel bir salgına dönüştü. Hızla yayılımı özellikle belediyecilik hizmetlerinden olan Atık Yönetiminde sorunlara neden oldu. Tek kullanımlık maske, eldiven, gözlük gibi koruyucu ekipmanlar ve hastane yoğun bakımlarından çıkan enfekte atık miktarlarında ciddi artışlar meydana geldi. Bu durum mevcut atık bertaraf sistemleri üzerinde baskı oluşturdu. Ulusal ve uluslararası genelgeler yayınlanarak salgının yayılımı engellenmeye çalışıldı. Bu süreçte biyolojik parçalanabilir plastikler, çevresel ve ekonomik olarak uygun bertaraf yöntemleri ve uygun yönetim planlarının oluşturulmasına yönelik sistem optimizasyon çalışmaları ile veri üretme, saklama ve işleme konusunda yenilikçi çalışmalar ortaya çıktı. Bu çalışmada salgın döneminde Katı Atık Yönetiminde ortaya çıkan sorunlar, çevresel ve ekonomik etkileri, sorunların çözümüne yönelik yapılan yasal düzenlemeler, alınan tedbirler, önerilen uygun bertaraf yöntemleri ile yenilikçi çalışmalar incelenmiştir. Artan nüfus ve iklim değişikliğinin uzun süreli etkileri dikkate alındığında bu salgın ilk değil, son olmayacaktır. Bu dönemde kazanılan ivme ile gerçekleştirilen yenilikçi çalışmalar hız kaybetmeden devam etmeli ve sektör içerisinde kullanılmaları yaygınlaştırılmalıdır.

Keywords

COVİD-19 Salgını, Kentsel Katı Atık Yönetimi, Tıbbi Atık Yönetimi

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