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Disposal of Personal Protective Equipment during the COVID-19 Pandemic Is a Challenge for Waste Collection Companies and Society: A Case Study in Poland

Author

Listed:
  • Piotr Nowakowski

    (Department of Logistics and Transport Technologies, Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, 40-019 Katowice, Poland)

  • Sandra Kuśnierz

    (Department of Logistics and Transport Technologies, Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, 40-019 Katowice, Poland)

  • Patrycja Sosna

    (Department of Logistics and Transport Technologies, Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, 40-019 Katowice, Poland)

  • Jakub Mauer

    (Department of Logistics and Transport Technologies, Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, 40-019 Katowice, Poland)

  • Dawid Maj

    (Department of Logistics and Transport Technologies, Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, 40-019 Katowice, Poland)

Abstract

One of the social measures applied during the COVID-19 pandemic has been the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)—face masks and gloves. As a result, this waste category has expanded enormously. This study investigates waste management issues from multiple perspectives, including local governments, waste collection companies, and individual citizens in Poland using a telephone survey for institutions and an online questionnaire for individuals. The results of this study show that approximately 80% of local governments in the Silesian region have applied special measures for handling and collection of waste PPE. Only 13% of waste collection companies have applied special collection schedules for the waste generated at quarantine collection points due to the high costs of changing collection schedules, providing additional vehicles, and paying for more labor. The information campaigns focusing on new methods of PPE waste collection have been difficult to introduce on a large scale, and citizens need better information regarding how to handle and dispose of waste PPE. Results indicated the most helpful method in supporting waste PPE collection would be automatic PPE dispensers with waste PPE collection options and waste bags of a designated color. The respondents identified waste PPE pollution of the environment as an issue and the necessity for proper recovery of this waste stream.

Suggested Citation

  • Piotr Nowakowski & Sandra Kuśnierz & Patrycja Sosna & Jakub Mauer & Dawid Maj, 2020. "Disposal of Personal Protective Equipment during the COVID-19 Pandemic Is a Challenge for Waste Collection Companies and Society: A Case Study in Poland," Resources, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-11, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jresou:v:9:y:2020:i:10:p:116-:d:420722
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Klemeš, Jiří Jaromír & Fan, Yee Van & Tan, Raymond R. & Jiang, Peng, 2020. "Minimising the present and future plastic waste, energy and environmental footprints related to COVID-19," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    2. Hao Yu & Xu Sun & Wei Deng Solvang & Xu Zhao, 2020. "Reverse Logistics Network Design for Effective Management of Medical Waste in Epidemic Outbreaks: Insights from the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak in Wuhan (China)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-25, March.
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    Cited by:

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