COVID-19 and Recycling
Author: Meagan Laszlo
Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted everyone around the world in different ways: changing lifestyle practices, virtual learning, separation from friends and family, social distancing, mask-wearing guidelines, employment, financial, food and housing insecurity, environmental justice, healthcare changes and even waste management and recycling practices. Recycling has the potential to positively or negatively impact the environment in numerous ways. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way families and businesses produce waste and dispose of waste. Unfortunately, the environmental impacts from waste management can be long-lasting and irreversible.
Summary Video
Video: 4:58m
Video Transcript
Slide 1: Hello and welcome! This video will provide a brief overview of COVID-19 and the impacts on recycling.
Slide 2: COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2, has impacted people from all over the world. There are many ways the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted individual’s livelihood and lifestyle. Recycling practices have also been disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Slide 3: Recycling is extremely important for environmental health and subsequently, human health. Recycling has many benefits: it helps tackle climate change, there is a reduction in waste, carbon emissions, greenhouse gasses, air pollution, a reduction of waste in the oceans and ecosystem, and protection of land and marine animals, to name a few. Recycling limits the amount of pollution, which helps keep our environment clean. A clean environment overall improves human health.
Slide 4: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused more people to use disposable masks, latex gloves, plastic bags, and other disposable plastic products for personal safety from the virus. Not only is more plastic being used, but the COVID-19 pandemic has changed recycling guidelines as well. While recycling is important for the environment, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) encourages people infected with COVID-19 to treat recyclables as trash to decrease risk of virus transmission. Therefore, more plastic and non-biodegradable material are ending up in the landfills. While these guidelines are important for personal safety, the environmental impacts cannot be overlooked.
Slide 5: These four images show how reusable personal protective equipment (PPE) is polluting our environment.
Slide 6: Research has shown that human coronaviruses can live on surfaces and waste at room temperature for up to nine days. This is problematic because infectious waste is not only produced in hospitals, but also households as individuals with COVID-19 are disposing of virus-laden waste, such as tissues, masks, gloves, etc. Virus-laden surfaces can potentially transmit the coronavirus to waste-management workers, which endangers workers in this field. As a result, the EPA recommends treating recyclables as trash because trash is contained in a trash bag, whereas recyclables are typically disposed of loosely. It is important to note that this research is for human coronaviruses, not necessarily COVID-19 as there are several types of coronaviruses that are different from COVID-19, which is the virus causing this pandemic. The researchers, however, predict similar results for COVID-19. It is important to note that the aforementioned research was conducted in the year 2020, further research may have been conducted at the time you are viewing this video.
Slide 7: Climate change and air pollution disproportionately affect marginalized communities and individuals living in poverty. The decrease in recycling during the pandemic can increase carbon emissions, greenhouse gasses, and air pollution that contribute to climate change and global warming. Marginalized communities and individuals living in poverty live in areas that are more likely to be damaged from climate hazards and these individuals have a higher incidence of health risks that can be worsened from air pollution. Not only are minority communities disproportionately affected by climate change, they are also more likely to be infected with COVID-19. This figure from the CDC shows how minority populations are at a higher risk for COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and death compared to white and non-Hispanic individuals.
Slide 8: So, what do we do with this information? How do we proceed? Globally, we can reduce waste by wearing reusable masks (that still meets CDC guidelines), using reusable bags at grocery stores and ensuring that they are sanitized after each use (per CDC guidelines) and using biodegradable material, rather than plastic material. Individuals who are infected with COVID-19 can wait to dispose of their waste until they are no longer at risk for transmitting the virus. That will allow more people to recycle without endangering waste management workers.
Slide 9: Thank you for viewing this project and taking the time to learn about the impacts on waste management during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Benefits of Recycling
Reduction of waste in the natural environment that can end up in the ocean and ecosystem. Reduction of non-biodegradable waste in landfills that may take a long time to decompose.
Recycling decreases the amount of pollutants in the air and in the ocean by reusing the products, rather than letting them decompose.
Reduction in carbon emissions and greenhouse gasses that influences climate change.
Protection of land and marine wildlife.
New products can be made from reused and recovered materials.
Conserves natural resources (EPA, 2020)
Current Status of Recycling & Waste During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Continue recycling per your local guidelines.
If an individual in the household has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or is awaiting a test result, treat all recyclables like trash (EPA, 2020).
Reusable and single-use masks, sanitation wipes, latex gloves and plastic bags should not be recycled (EPA, 2020). These items should be placed in the trash, rather than the recycling bin.
Restaurants are using more plastic bags and takeout packaging due to the restaurant industry primarily serving take-out only orders (Love & Rieland , 2020).
Most grocery stores have installed Plexiglass (at type of solid plastic) at every register for further personal protection.
Families produce more waste.
Some clothing and food donation centers have been closed depending on state regulations.
Individuals have been urged (required in some states) to wear a face mask (disposable or reusable) or face shield while in public. Some individuals also wear single-use latex gloves, as well.
Health care workers are wearing more personal protective equipment (PPE), such as single-use masks, plastic face shields, gowns, gloves, and shoe coverings.
The Effects of Current Recycling Practices During COVID-19
PPE cannot be recycled, therefore masks, gloves and other PPE are polluting the ocean and other natural environments (Edmond, 2020).
Household recycling is essential during the COVID-19 pandemic to continue to supply raw materials to produce paper products (i.e. paper towels, toilet paper, packaging, etc.). United States manufacturing is relying on household recycling because businesses and corporations that under normal circumstances would produce high amounts of recyclables are unable to when they are closed or under restrictions (EPA, 2020).
Recycling reduces carbon emissions and greenhouse gasses, which is significant in preventing climate change. With less materials being recycled during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is risk for increased air pollutants which can negativity impact climate change progression.
Instead of donating used clothing and donating food, families are throwing items away due to donation center regulations and closures.
Individuals with COVID-19 are encouraged to place their recyclables in the trash. This leads to a reduction in overall recycling and an increase in waste in landfills. This will also increase carbon emissions and air pollution as recyclable materials take longer to biodegrade and decompose in landfills.
The EPA recommends placing all trash in plastic bags. While more trash is being produced and recyclables are in the trash, more plastic bags are also being used. This leads to even more plastic in landfills (EPA, 2020).
Oregon passed a bill in January 2020 banning single-use plastic bags distributed at stores and restaurants and banned plastic straws. However, the pandemic has brought single-use plastic back to grocery stores and restaurants. Plastic bags and plastic straws cannot be recycled. As a result, they continue to fill landfills and pollute the ocean and natural environments.
U.S. cities have averaged a 20% increase in residential waste and recycling volume from March to April 2020 largely due to families spending more time at home (SWANA, 2020).
Related Videos & Graphics
Solid waste management trends and practices during the COVID-19 crisis
Waste management priorities to keep in mind during the pandemic
COVID-19 and Recycling Research
Giovanis (2015) explored the relationship between air pollution and recycling rate and found that recycling can lead to air quality improvement and decreased recycling can increase pollutants in the air such as SO2, NOx and CO2, among others.
Decreased recycling also produces more greenhouse gases and carbon emissions, which directly impacts climate change.
Climate change and air pollution disproportionately affect marginalized communities and individuals living in poverty. The decrease in recycling during the pandemic can increase carbon emissions, greenhouse gasses, and air pollution that can contribute to climate change and global warming. Marginalized communities and individuals living in poverty live in areas that are more likely to be damaged from climate hazards and these individuals have a higher incidence of health risks that can be worsened from air pollution. The outcomes of the recycling guidelines can worsen living conditions, environmental and toxin exposures and impact socioeconomic status for marginalized communities and families living in poverty (United Nation, 2016).
Infectious waste is produced not only in hospitals, but also from households as people with the coronavirus are disposing of virus-laden waste (tissues, masks, gloves, etc.). There is evidence that human coronaviruses (not necessarily SARS-CoV-2/ COVID-19) can live on waste in room temperature for up to nine days (Kampf et al., 2020). Kampf et al. (2020) found no data on transmissibility from virus-laden surfaces to hands, however. Kampft et al. (2020) and Sharma et al. (2020) expect similar results for SARS-CoV-2.
The virus-laden surfaces endangers workers in waste management (Sharma et al., 2020). These findings explain the EPA recommendation of disposing of recyclables in the trash so that the virus-laden material is contained in a trash bag, rather than uncovered in a recycling bin.
Proposed Solutions and Interventions
The CDC recommends face coverings for everyone 2 years of age and older when in public and when social distancing is not achievable. Rather than individuals (non-healthcare) wearing disposable and single-use masks, individuals can consider a reusable mask made from tightly woven fabric (that adheres to CDC guidelines). This would decrease the amount of single-use masks that are being used and disposed in the trash and end-up in landfill (CDC, 2020).
The CDC only recommends wearing gloves while cleaning and while caring for someone who is ill. Disposable gloves do not need to be worn in the grocery store, park, etc. Limited glove-use will decrease the amount of gloves that are disposed in the trash and end-up in landfill. Proper hand-washing is encouraged rather than wearing gloves in public (CDC, 2020).
While grocery stores and restaurants are currently distributing plastic bags, consumers can still bring their own reusable bag to be used at most stores and restaurants (some facilities do not allow this, however). Reusable bags should be sanitized after each use to ensure COVID-19 is not transmitted on and from the bag.
Restaurants can distribute bio-degradable/paper straws, rather than plastic straws.
Instead of throwing away clothing and canned food, families can save the items and donate when donation centers reopen and allow donations again.
Waste prevention programs to encourage businesses and families to recycle more and be responsible for what they produce. Another recommendation is to educate the public on the benefits of recycling and the negative environmental impacts of not recycling (Giovanis, 2015).
PPE provided for waste management workers to protect them possible virus-laden waste (Sharma et al., 2020).
Using biodegradable trash bags, rather than plastic trash bags.
Individuals who are infected with COVID-19 can wait to dispose of their waste until they are no longer at risk for transmitting COVID-19. That will allow more people to recycle without endangering waste management workers.
The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals identify two goals that can positively impact marginalized communities and families living in poverty; Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities and Goal 13: Climate Action (United Nations, 2016).
Analysis
Despite the current recycling guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are still ways to responsibly reduce, reuse and recycle during these times of uncertainty. If individuals infected with COVID-19 can wait to dispose of their waste until they are no longer at risk for transmitting the virus, they can still recycle their materials without the need to dispose of their recyclables in the trash. If workers are protected with PPE, individuals can recycle their recyclable material, rather than disposing of it in the trash. Even if families and businesses recycle responsibly during the pandemic, there will still be an abundance of plastic and non-biodegradable material in the landfill that can negatively affect climate change and pollution. If biodegradable bags are used instead of standard plastic trash bags, the amount of plastic in landfills will decrease. With all of these guidelines, individuals need to make a conscious effort to reduce their waste and recycle appropriately during and after this pandemic.
Additional Resources & More Information
Recycling guidelines in your local area: https://how2recycle.info/check-locally
Recycling guidelines in Oregon: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/recycling/Pages/Recycle-Right.aspx
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): https://www.epa.gov/
COVID-19 updates from the EPA: https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/
COVID-19 updates from the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
COVID-19 and recycling updates per country: https://waste-management-world.com/a/bir-update-on-the-impact-of-covid-19-measures-to-scrap-recycling-yards-around-the-world
Have excess food? Consider donating to a local food bank (while following CDC and local safety guidelines): https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/excess-food-opportunities-map
For Updated Information and to Track COVID-19
References
CDC. (2020, November 12). COVID-19: Considerations for Wearing Masks. Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-guidance.html
CDC. (2020, July 16). When to Wear Gloves. Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/gloves.html
Edmond, C. (2020, June 11). How face masks, gloves and other coronavirus waste is polluting our ocean. Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/06/ppe-masks-gloves-coronavirus-ocean-pollution/
EPA. (2020, May 12). Recycling and Sustainable Management of Food During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency. Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus/recycling-and-sustainable-management-food-during-coronavirus-covid-19-public-health
EPA. (2020, November 12). Recycling Basics. Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://www.epa.gov/recycle/recycling-basics
FRANCE 24 English (Director). (2020, June 10). ‘A new type of pollution’: Covid-19 waste ending up in world’s oceans [Video file]. Retrieved November 22, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fZyH43H030&feature=emb_logo
Giovanis, E. (2015). Relationship between recycling rate and air pollution: Waste management in the state of Massachusetts. Waste Management (Elmsford), 40, 192–203. https://doi.org /10.1016/j.wasman.2015.03.006
Kampf, G., Todt, D., Pfaender, S., & Steinmann, E. (2020, February 06). Persistence of coronaviruses on inanimate surfaces and their inactivation with biocidal agents. Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195670120300463
Love, B. J., & Rieland, J., PhD Candidate. (2020, September 06). COVID-19 is laying waste to many US recycling programs. Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://theconversation.com/covid-19-is-laying-waste-to-many-us-recycling-programs-139733
Sharma, Hari Bhakta, Vanapalli, Kumar Raja, Cheela, VR Shankar, Ranjan, Ved Prakash, Jaglan, Amit Kumar, Dubey, Brajesh, Goel, Sudha, & Bhattacharya, Jayanta. (2020). Challenges, opportunities, and innovations for effective solid waste management during and post COVID-19 pandemic. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 162, 105052–105052. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.105052
SWANA. (2020). SWANA Submits Statement on Recycling Challenges for U.S. Senate Hearing. Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://swana.org/news/swana-news/article/2020/06/17/swana-submits-statement-on-recycling-challenges-for-u.s.-senate-hearing
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Director). (2020, May 12). Importance of Recycling and Proper Management of Personal Protective Equipment During COVID-19 [Video file]. Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcGonQ3rx3Y
United Nation. (2016, October 3). Report: Inequalities exacerbate climate impacts on poor – United Nations Sustainable Development. Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2016/10/report-inequalities-exacerbate-climate-impacts-on-poor/