Covid-19: Clinical waste increased by almost 100% since outbreak began, says Tuan Ibrahim

PETALING JAYA: Clinical waste in the country has increased by almost 100% since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, says Environment and Water Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

“There has been an increase in clinical waste by 96% since the pandemic started in Malaysia in December 2019.

“The highest quantity of clinical waste was recorded in January this year, with a total of 4,082 tonnes compared to 2,084 tonnes in December 2019, ” he said after launching the Green Vaccination Programme handbook for the disposal of Covid-19 vaccination clinical waste on Monday (April 5).

He noted that the launch of the Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme on Feb 24 will see an increase in clinical waste nationwide.

He said his ministry expects some 2,100 tonnes of clinical waste to be produced in the first 12 months of the immunisation programme.

As such, Tuan Ibrahim said the government is introducing the handbook on the disposal of Covid-19 waste to ensure that such waste is disposed of at designated centres to ensure a safe and sustainable environment.

He added the handbook will also outline measures to be taken by the government to off-set the environmental footprint with regard to the disposal of Covid-19 clinical waste.

Among the measures, he said, were increasing forest protection, tree planting and use of renewable energy.

On the disposal of face masks, Tuan Ibrahim said that face masks are not categorised as clinical waste, only those which are used during treatment of Covid-19 patients.

He reminded members of the public not to litter, but dispose of their used face masks accordingly.

“We have reports of animals getting entangled by elastic sections of the face masks which are simply thrown away by users, ” he said.

The handbook was jointly launched by Tuan Ibrahim, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba and Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.