Cities take waste management seriously
However, the Covid-19 pandemic has fueled the demand for personal protective equipment and other disposable medical supplies, just like masks, face shields and hospital wastes that should not just be thrown away anywhere
Amid the pandemic, the lack of people to clean and collect garbage also make it difficult to keep the environment clean, which is much needed today, as the Covid-19 virus and its variants have spread in the country and around the world.
Garbage piles attract various insects and germs and are often a problem, especially in poor areas.
Therefore, there is a need for proper solid waste management. In this way, it does not accumulate. In fact, the collection of garbage is done daily in the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela (CAMANAVA).
Before the pandemic, several private companies had been collaborating with the local governments to help boost the implementation of Republic Act (RA) 9003, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. Several companies also signed a memorandum of agreement in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that will promote proper waste segregation, recycling and reuse of recyclable items, such as plastics, bottles and others.
This greatly helped reduce the volume of trash for disposal, and it also opened up income opportunities from garbage while mitigating pollution.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic has fueled the demand for personal protective equipment and other disposable medical supplies, just like masks, face shields and hospital wastes that should not just be thrown away anywhere.
“Our programs for the cleanliness and orderliness of Caloocan will continue even in the midst of the pandemic. From then until now, one of our priorities has been to improve and maintain cleanliness in our city,” Caloocan City Mayor Oca Malapitan said.
In these times of rising environmental awareness, discussing proper waste disposal in health care is of paramount concern not only for environmentalists or other members of the health sector, but also for society as a whole.
In order to properly disseminate existing technology and knowledge regarding this particular concern, the Department of Health (DoH) has released the revised health care waste management manual, in close collaboration with other government agencies, civil society, the academe and various professional groups, which is now observed in the CAMANAVA cities, especially in hospitals.
There are many potential hazards associated when dealing or handling health care waste, such as physical, chemical and biological hazards.
Not only that, the wearing of masks and face shields are mandated in establishments, public transportation and workplaces in Valenzuela City. Mayor Rex Gatchalian encourages Valenzuelanos to always observe discipline in the city and live up to the motto “Valenzuela, May Disiplina” in every household by following safety precautions and ordinances passed in the city.
The alarming rise in the improper disposal of these wastes urged the DENR to issue an advisory to local government units to ensure compliance by their constituents in the proper segregation, handling and disposal of wastes following the provisions of RA 9003 and 6969, otherwise known as Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act.
To strengthen its implementation at the local level, the Valenzuela City Council passed Ordinance 769, Series of 2020, or Mask and Face Shield Disposal Ordinance of Valenzuela City, last year during the council’s 50th regular session.
“With the wearing of masks and face shields becoming a way of life as a protection against Covid-19, the so-called coronavirus waste is seen rising, and improper disposal of the infectious yet polluting waste does not only degrade the environment, but also endangers the future of public health as well,” Mayor Gatchalian said.
There are many potential hazards associated when dealing or handling health care waste, such as physical, chemical and biological hazards.
Health care facilities should identify all these specific environmental and occupational hazards during handling, storing, treating and disposing of health care waste.
A team consisting of environmental services staff and workers who will be using the equipment, as well as trained industrial hygienist, safety officer, infection control nurse, occupational health practitioner, facility engineer and other professionals, can work together to identify such hazards and ways to reduce if not to eliminate them.