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STATUS AND CHALLENGES OF COVID-19 WASTE MANAGEMENT IN THANE CITY, INDIA

Due to enhanced healthcare needs brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic, the amount of biomedical waste generated has also increased
manifold across the globe. With the world in global crisis due to the recent outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has put great pressure on the
biomedical waste management system in India and around the world. To control the spread of the COVID-19 virus, proper disposal of the waste is
essential to reduce any risk of secondary transmission. This paper investigates the situation of biomedical waste management in the city of Thane in
Maharashtra due to the onset of COVID-19 and suggests some key recommendations to the policymakers to help handle biomedical waste from
possible future pandemics. The study found that there was an 81% increase in the total biomedical waste (BMW) generation in 2020, when
compared to 2019 and the yellow category waste from COVID-19 centres was the highest contributor to this waste. It was also found that though
there was a slight increase in yellow category waste, the total biomedical waste from non- COVID healthcare facilities (HCFs) was comparable to
that of the waste generated in HCFs during 2019, revealing that there was conscious reduction in the usage of single use PPEs at non- COVID
HCFs. The city, despite owning a Central Biomedical Waste Treatment Facility (CBWTF), was dependent on another incinerator at the Hazardous
Waste Management Treatment facility (HWTF) for treatment of the additional waste generated. Unforeseen situation like these, expose the
vulnerability of our existing biomedical waste management system and reinforces the need for investing and improving them for strengthening
preparedness in the future. The situation also demands periodic education on importance of source segregation and waste reduction through
rational use, disinfection and disposal of PPEs.