Managing surge in pandemic solid waste

YET another damaging consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic is the massive amount of solid waste generated by people as they seek to protect themselves from being infected (personal protective equipment such as gloves and face masks) and in managing their food and other daily needs while under lockdown. According to the Waste Management Association of Malaysia (WMAM), waste generation in residential areas has increased by 20% to 30% since the implementation of the movement control order (MCO) on March 18.

This is not surprising really, as people locked up in their homes went online to shop for food and other personal needs, which necessitated the use of huge amounts of packaging, particularly single-use plastic bags and containers.