Personal protective equipment waste potentially infected with SARS-CoV-2 – a new global challenge for biological safety

Abstract

The paper presents the results of a study and analysis of the problematic situation when handling potentially infectious public waste during the spread of the new coronavirus infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The population around the world is forced to comply with special prevention rules recommended by supervisory medical and executive authorities. These include the use of personal protective equipment by citizens. To date, sanitary legislation, as well as municipal solid waste management standards and regulations, does not include a fraction of medical waste containing potentially hazardous substances personal protective equipment waste generated beyond healthcare facilities. The situation under study, in our opinion, determines the particular relevance of the setting and solving of the problem of scientific substantiation of the functional model of an integrated method for ensuring biological safety of the population. To develop a separate stream of potentially infectious public waste in the system of municipal solid waste handling in cities and settlements. The article analyzes and proposes new approaches to solving a number of tasks for the management of potentially infectious public waste generated beyond healthcare facilities. We invite stakeholders to jointly research and discuss all aspects of the management of medical and biological waste, as well as municipal solid waste, taking into account the continued spread of the new coronavirus infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, to develop proposals for improving sanitary and environmental legislation.