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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Challenges of increased usage of plastic during COVID and Possible Solutions
ClearCurrent plastics pollution threats due to COVID-19 and its possible mitigation techniques: a waste-to-energy conversion via Pyrolysis
Researchers reviewed how the COVID-19 pandemic generated massive amounts of plastic medical waste — including masks and gloves — and found that pyrolysis (heating plastic without oxygen) can convert this waste into usable oil, reducing plastic pollution. This waste-to-energy approach offers a practical path for managing the surge of single-use medical plastics that would otherwise end up in landfills or the environment as microplastics.
Increased plastic pollution due to COVID-19 pandemic: Challenges and recommendations
This review examines how the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically increased plastic pollution through the massive use of disposable personal protective equipment like masks and gloves. Researchers warn that this surge in single-use plastics will accelerate the generation of microplastics and nanoplastics in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. The study emphasizes the need to balance public health measures with environmental safety and calls for a shift toward sustainable alternatives.
Mind the gap: Sustainable management of the surging plastic waste in the post-COVID-19 pandemic
This review examines how the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically increased plastic waste from personal protective equipment like masks and gloves, and what can be done about it. Researchers found that traditional disposal methods like landfilling and incineration can release micro- and nanoplastics, while circular economy approaches and biological degradation methods show promise. The study underscores the importance of developing sustainable waste management systems that prevent protective equipment from becoming a lasting source of plastic pollution.
An urgent call to think globally and act locally on landfill disposable plastics under and after covid-19 pandemic: Pollution prevention and technological (Bio) remediation solutions
This review examines how the COVID-19 pandemic worsened plastic pollution through massive increases in landfilled disposable masks and other protective equipment, estimated at 3.5 million metric tonnes in the first year alone. Researchers warn that improperly managed pandemic waste could release trillions of microplastics into the environment. The study highlights innovative waste management and bioremediation technologies that could help mitigate the long-term environmental impact.
The plastic pandemic: COVID-19 has accelerated plastic pollution, but there is a cure
This study examines how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the global plastic pollution crisis through massively increased use of single-use protective equipment like masks and gloves. Researchers review the environmental consequences and propose solutions including improved waste management, biodegradable alternatives, and policy changes to curb plastic pollution going forward.
Increased pollution due to COVID-19 pandemic and bioremediation: A dire need of management
This review examines how the COVID-19 pandemic increased plastic pollution — particularly from PPE and single-use plastics — and discusses bioremediation strategies for cleaning up the resulting environmental contamination. The authors assess both short-term cleanup approaches and long-term strategies for preventing the accumulated pandemic plastic waste from becoming a persistent source of microplastic pollution. The review covers microbial and plant-based remediation options.
Environmental Pollution of Medical Waste and New Medical Plastic Waste Treatment Technology
This review examines the environmental pollution problems caused by the surge in medical plastic waste during the COVID-19 pandemic and evaluates emerging treatment technologies including microcapsule technology, photocatalytic degradation, plastic cracking for oil production, and waste mask iron-making. The authors highlight deficiencies in current incineration and landfill approaches and advocate for wider adoption of greener, lower-emission technologies for medical waste processing.
A Brief Review on Plastic Pollution and Roads Towards its Reduction
This brief review summarized sources of plastic pollution and evaluated reduction strategies, noting that COVID-19 increased single-use plastic consumption dramatically. The review calls for improved waste management, stronger regulations, and development of biodegradable plastic alternatives to reduce the microplastic burden.
Plastic accumulation during COVID-19: call for another pandemic; bioplastic a step towards this challenge?
Researchers reviewed the surge in single-use plastic waste driven by COVID-19 personal protective equipment and evaluated bioplastics as an alternative, concluding that while bioplastics have limitations, transitioning toward them alongside circular economy waste management and policy intervention is essential to prevent plastic pollution from compounding pandemic-era environmental pressures.
The Impacts of Plastic Waste from Personal Protective Equipment Used during the COVID-19 Pandemic
This review analyzes the environmental impacts of personal protective equipment plastic waste generated during the COVID-19 pandemic, examining how the unprecedented surge in PPE demand overwhelmed waste management systems and contributed to microplastic pollution.
A review of waste management during protection kits and other material
This review examines waste management challenges associated with COVID-19 protective gear, including masks, gloves, and other single-use plastic items. Improper disposal of pandemic PPE has added significant quantities of plastic to the environment that will degrade into microplastics over time.
Plastic Waste Management towards Energy Recovery during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Example of Protective Face Mask Pyrolysis
Researchers analyzed the elemental composition and pyrolysis behavior of COVID-19 protective face masks, finding that pyrolysis at 400-900 degrees Celsius could effectively recover energy from pandemic-related plastic waste that overwhelmed conventional waste management systems.
Arising Challenges From Single-use Plastics and Personal Protective Equipment Through COVID-19 Pandemic in Waste Management System in Developing Countries
This review examines the waste management challenges posed by the surge in single-use plastics and personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in developing countries where infrastructure is limited. The authors analyzed published literature to highlight how the pandemic exacerbated plastic waste generation and identify gaps in policy and management capacity needed to address these emerging pollution streams.
Impacts and Regulations of Healthcare Solid Waste Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review
This systematic review summarizes research on healthcare waste management during the COVID-19 pandemic, when medical plastic waste surged dramatically. The massive increase in disposable masks, gloves, and other medical plastics created new sources of microplastic pollution, raising concerns about both environmental contamination and potential health effects from degrading medical waste.
From outbreak of COVID-19 to launching of vaccination drive: invigorating single-use plastics, mitigation strategies, and way forward
Researchers review how the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent vaccination rollout dramatically increased single-use plastic consumption through PPE, medical devices, and e-commerce packaging, and recommend a stepwise management approach combining segregation, sterilization, technological innovation, and transition to biodegradable material alternatives.
Post-Covid-19 Pandemic Awareness on The Use of Micro- and Nano Plastic and Efforts into Their Degradation - A Mini Review
This mini-review discusses how COVID-19 increased micro- and nanoplastic pollution globally through expanded use of plastic in personal protective equipment and medical supplies. It also reviews current approaches to degrade these plastics, noting that biological and chemical methods show promise but face major scale-up challenges.
Accumulation of biomedical waste due to COVID-19: Concerns and strategies for effective treatment to control the pandemic
Researchers estimated that India generates approximately 88.5 tonnes of plastic PPE waste per day during COVID-19, with 55% of facemasks disposed of via open burning, and proposed pyrolysis-based energy recovery as a safer alternative to landfilling and uncontrolled incineration.
COVID‐19: An Accelerator for Global Plastic Consumption and Its Implications
This review examined how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated global plastic consumption through increased medical waste and single-use plastics, analyzing the environmental implications and challenges for waste management systems worldwide.
Challenges and Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic on Global Waste Management Systems: A Review
Researchers reviewed the global impact of COVID-19 on waste management systems, focusing on the surge of disposable personal protective equipment and single-use plastics. The study highlights that pandemic-related waste has created novel pollution pathways for air, soil, and water contamination, and discusses the challenges this poses for existing waste management infrastructure worldwide.
Emerging Technologies for Waste Plastic Treatment
This review surveyed emerging technologies for waste plastic treatment including chemical recycling, pyrolysis, biodegradation, and catalytic conversion, evaluating their potential to address the growing plastic pollution crisis more effectively than conventional methods.
Plastic Waste Pollution Worsen by the COVID-19 Pandemic: Substitutional Technologies Transforming Plastic Waste to Value Added Products
This review examines how the COVID-19 pandemic worsened plastic waste management by generating unprecedented medical waste, while assessing substitutional technologies such as pyrolysis and construction material conversion that can transform plastic waste into value-added products within a circular economy framework.
Effects of Mismanagement of Medical and Plastic Waste in Pre and During COVID-19 Outbreak
This review examined how mismanagement of medical and plastic waste — a problem worsened by COVID-19 — harms the environment and human health, particularly for healthcare workers. Improperly disposed PPE, sharps, and plastic packaging create pollution hazards and increase disease risk. The authors call for improved waste management infrastructure to address pandemic-era plastic waste surges.
Biomedical waste plastic: bacteria, disinfection and recycling technologies—a comprehensive review
Researchers reviewed recycling and disinfection technologies for the surge in biomedical plastic waste generated during COVID-19, finding that roughly 25% of biomedical waste is recyclable and that cleaner treatment approaches — from autoclave sterilization to chemical recycling — can convert this hazardous waste stream into recoverable materials.
Plastic pollution during COVID-19: Plastic waste directives and its long-term impact on the environment
Researchers reviewed how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated global plastic production — through mandatory masks, gloves, and single-use packaging — worsening long-term micro- and nanoplastic pollution in oceans, soils, and food chains. The study calls for stronger plastic waste management programs that specifically target the prevention of small plastic particles from entering ecosystems.