Explosive Mask Waste, Hundreds Of Cleaning Workers In Bantargebang Exposed To COVID-19

JAKARTA - The DKI Jakarta Environment Agency noted that 100 of its members who served in Bantargebang were exposed to COVID-19. They are suspected to have been exposed to the mask waste that was thrown away with household waste.

"Many cart staff doesn't understand that there are houses that have COVID-19 patients or not, then all the garbage is put together, put in trash cans, and then to Bantargebang", said Head of the DKI Jakarta Environmental Service, Asep Kuswanto, in Menteng, Central Jakarta on Saturday, December 18th.

The hundreds of officers were exposed during the second wave of COVID-19 in Jakarta. At that time, the people of the capital city produced 493 tons of hazardous and toxic (B3) waste such as masks per day.

Moreover, the cause of transmission to the Environmental Service officers was because they did not use personal protective equipment (PPE) when managing the medical waste.

"Our officers were exposed to COVID-19 because of the waste of masks", said Asep.

Therefore, Asep hopes that the community will be more concerned about this condition. One way that can be used is to separate medical and household waste.

Meanwhile, for B3 waste from hospitals, Asep explained that his party did not encounter any problems in its management. This is because the hospital has already done the sorting before it is finally distributed to the final disposal site.

"The garbage bags (from the hospital) are special. From there, our third-party will transport them", said Asep.