adminThupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has come up with guidelines to regulate the disposal of single-use personal protective equipment (PPEs) such as face masks.
Zimbabweans are using face masks and gloves, among other PPEs, to combat the spread of Covid-19, but they now constitute the bulk of garbage on the streets and illegal dumpsites.
EMA says disposable PPEs can be classified as hazardous waste and can no longer be treated as normal garbage.
Ms Amkela Sidange, EMA’s manager responsible for environment and education, told The Herald on Tuesday that the new waste management document had since been adopted by the Health and Child Care ministry.
She said the guidelines were categorised on the basis of operational zones to include medical institutions, household, roadblocks, ports of entry, supermarkets, open vegetable markets, isolation and quarantine centres.
“The Covid-19 pandemic led to the emergence of a new waste stream at household level in the form of face masks and gloves,” said Ms Sidange.
“As such, the agency is seized with the management of this hazardous waste in most houses across the country. This is something which previously was associated with medical institutions, hence we have drafted waste management guidelines for this new waste stream.”
The guidelines have since been shared with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, which has approved and adopted the document for use across Zimbabwe.
The arbitrary disposal of PPEs presents additional challenges to the management of Covid-19 as there are health-related risks for waste pickers.
Ms Sidange said there was additional danger that PPEs could end up in the environment and water bodies, which might lead to a health and ecological disaster.
“Under the new order, all health care waste produced during the care of Covid-19 patients should be collected safely in designated containers and bags, treated, and then safely disposed of, or both, preferably on-site (red bags with biohazard sign),” she said.
“At ports of entry, roadblocks, retail outlets and open markets, authorities should provide labelled bins and red bin liners specifically for used masks and gloves at strategic and accessible places.”
Pedal operated waste bins or bins with swinging lids are recommended for the disposal of PPEs.
At household level, people are encouraged to wash the used face masks and gloves with soap under running water for 20 seconds, or sanitise them before cutting the PPEs into pieces using a scissors to avoid unscrupulous reusing or recycling.
Once that has been done, the cut pieces should be deposited into a plastic bag, and tied pending further refuse management systems.
Online Reporter