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COVID-19 Creating another problem? Sustainable solution for PPE disposal through LCA approach

Author

Listed:
  • Harender Kumar

    (CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, CSIR-NEERI)

  • Amaanuddin Azad

    (CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, CSIR-NEERI)

  • Ankit Gupta

    (CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, CSIR-NEERI
    Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research [AcSIR])

  • Jitendra Sharma

    (United Nations Environment Programme)

  • Hemant Bherwani

    (CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, CSIR-NEERI
    Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research [AcSIR])

  • Nitin Kumar Labhsetwar

    (CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, CSIR-NEERI
    Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research [AcSIR])

  • Rakesh Kumar

    (CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, CSIR-NEERI
    Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research [AcSIR])

Abstract

Amid COVID-19, there have been rampant increase in the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits by frontline health and sanitation communities, to reduce the likelihoods of infections. The used PPE kits, potentially being infectious, pose a threat to human health, terrestrial, and marine ecosystems, if not scientifically handled and disposed. However, with stressed resources on treatment facilities and lack of training to the health and sanitation workers, it becomes vital to vet different options for PPE kits disposal, to promote environmentally sound management of waste. Given the various technology options available for treatment and disposal of COVID-19 patients waste, Life Cycle Assessment, i.e., cradle to grave analysis of PPE provides essential guidance in identifying the environmentally sound alternatives. In the present work, Life Cycle Assessment of PPE kits has been performed using GaBi version 8.7 under two disposal scenarios, namely landfill and incineration (both centralized and decentralized) for six environmental impact categories covering overall impacts on both terrestrial and marine ecosystems, which includes Global Warming Potential (GWP), Human Toxicity Potential (HTP), Eutrophication Potential (EP), Acidification Potential (AP), Freshwater Aquatic Ecotoxicity Potential (FAETP) and Photochemical Ozone Depletion Potential (POCP). Considering the inventories of PPE kits, disposal of PPE bodysuit has the maximum impact, followed by gloves and goggles, in terms of GWP. The use of metal strips in face-mask has shown the most significant HTP impact. The incineration process (centralized−3816 kg CO2 eq. and decentralized−3813 kg CO2 eq.) showed high GWP but significantly reduced impact w.r.t. AP, EP, FAETP, POCP and HTP, when compared to disposal in a landfill, resulting in the high overall impact of landfill disposal compared to incineration. The decentralized incineration has emerged as environmentally sound management option compared to centralized incinerator among all the impact categories, also the environmental impact by transportation is significant (2.76 kg CO2 eq.) and cannot be neglected for long-distance transportation. Present findings can help the regulatory authority to delineate action steps for safe disposal of PPE kits.

Suggested Citation

  • Harender Kumar & Amaanuddin Azad & Ankit Gupta & Jitendra Sharma & Hemant Bherwani & Nitin Kumar Labhsetwar & Rakesh Kumar, 2021. "COVID-19 Creating another problem? Sustainable solution for PPE disposal through LCA approach," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 9418-9432, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:23:y:2021:i:6:d:10.1007_s10668-020-01033-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-020-01033-0
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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. Carlos Alberto Mendes Moraes & Magali Rigon & Rafael Zortea & Regina Modolo, 2019. "Suggestion of Life Cycle Impact Assessment Methodology: Selection Criteria for Environmental Impact Categories," Chapters, in: Antonella Petrillo & Fabio De Felice (ed.), New Frontiers on Life Cycle Assessment - Theory and Application, IntechOpen.
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