Municipal solid waste management during the SARS-COV-2 outbreak and lockdown ease: Lessons from Italy

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Public Health
• Waste Management

Background:

• Limited research exists on municipal solid waste (MSW) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Mismanagement of MSW can compromise public health strategies during lockdown easing.
• The SARS-COV-2 outbreak highlighted vulnerabilities in waste management protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the impact of COVID-19 on MSW management in Italy.
• To propose strategies for preventing virus transmission through waste.
• To offer recommendations for protecting waste management operators.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of waste collection data from Italian municipalities during the pandemic.
• Review of existing literature and guidelines on infectious waste management.
• Case study approach focusing on a municipality with a door-to-door collection system.

Main Results:

• A significant decrease (-15%) in selective waste collection rates was observed.
• Delays in guideline publication affected operator safety.
• Single-use masks and gloves constituted less than 1% of annual MSW but caused environmental dispersion issues.

Conclusions:

• The MSW sector developed solutions to manage COVID-19 waste, but knowledge sharing is insufficient.
• Effective waste management strategies are vital for controlling future epidemics.
• Recommendations for waste treatment and operator protection are essential for pandemic preparedness.