Kumar Raja Vanapalli, H. Sharma, V. Ranjan
Aug 4, 2020
Citations
18
Influential Citations
399
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
The Science of the Total Environment
Abstract
Abstract The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic has enhanced the complexities of plastic waste management. Our improved, hyper-hygienic way of life in the fear of transmission has conveniently shifted our behavioral patterns like the use of PPE (Personal protective equipment), increased demand for plastic-packaged food and groceries, and the use of disposable utensils. The inadequacies and inefficiencies of our current waste management system to deal with our increased dependence on plastic could aggravate its mismanagement and leakage into the environment, thus triggering an environmental crisis. Mandating scientific sterilization and the use of sealed bags for safe disposal of contaminated plastic wastes should be an immediate priority to reduce the risk of transmission to sanitation workers. Investments in circular technologies like feedstock recycling along with improving the infrastructure and environmental viability of existing techniques could be the key to dealing with the plastic waste fluxes during a crisis. Transition towards environmentally friendly materials like bioplastics and harboring new sustainable technologies would be crucial to fighting future pandemics. Although the rollbacks and relaxation of single-use plastic bans may be temporary, their likely implications on the consumer perception could hinder our long-term goals of transitioning towards a circular economy. Likewise, any delay in building international willingness and participation to curb any form of pollution through summits and agendas may also delay its implementation. Reduction in plastic pollution and inclusive, sustainable plastic waste management can be achieved by restructuring our policies to instill individual behavioral as well as social, institutional changes. Incentivizing measures that encourage circularity and sustainable practices, public-private investments in research and infrastructure would help in bringing the aforementioned changes. Individual responsibility, corporate action, and government policy are all necessary to keep us from transiting from one disaster to another.