COVID-19 Medical Waste Becomes A New Problem, The Task Force Speeds Regulations To Management Technology

Ilustrasi (Raga Granada / YOU)

JAKARTA - The COVID-19 pandemic has increased medical waste, especially masks. In response to this, Wiku Adisasmito, spokesperson for the Task Force (Task Force) for handling COVID-19, said that his party would try to make rules and find the best technology for managing medical waste.

This policy will be made by the Waste Sub-Sector COVID-19 Handling Task Force in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the Ministry of Health.

"Currently, the Waste Sub-Sector Task Force is trying to formulate appropriate policies and technology regarding the management of COVID-19 community waste", Wiku said in a press conference broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat YouTube account, Thursday, February 18.

Even though the policy is being discussed by the Task Force and related parties, he said the local government must still have standards to deal with this waste problem.

This is important to do so as not to endanger the community by causing new health problems.

"In addition, the Task Force has given five incinerators to five provinces in Indonesia and helped manage waste in several large hospitals in DKI Jakarta", he said.

Previously, medical waste was indeed a serious problem. On February 5, medical waste suspected to have been handled by COVID-19 was found scattered in the Oil Palm Plantation area of PT Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN) VIII, Cigudeg District, Bogor Regency, West Java. The medical waste found was a hazmat suit, masks, syringes, intravenous lines, and a number of packs or bottles of used medicine.

This is not the first case. The day before, there was a similar discovery on the side of Jalan Raya, Tenjo District, Bogor Regency. This hazardous waste is deliberately dumped in the area. In fact, waste like this, especially for handling COVID-19, should not be disposed of carelessly.

In addition, researchers from LIPI, IPB, and UT found PPE mask waste polluting the mouth of the Marunda and Cilincing rivers towards Jakarta Bay. The PPE includes medical masks, gloves, hazmat, raincoats, and face shields.

"Based on the data provided, it can be concluded that the PPE waste has increased significantly", said the COVID-19 Task Force's Medical Waste Management Sub-Division in a written statement, quoted by Tempo.

The discovery of medical waste that was dumped in any place also occurred in November 2020. Trash that is suspected of being formerly tested for COVID-19 was dumped by the side of the road in Bekasi Regency, West Java.

The goods were found by residents on the side of Jalan Raya Sukatani-Cabangungin, Bekasi Regency. The case is still being investigated by the Bekasi Metro Police and the Bekasi District Environment Agency.

Medical waste was also found polluting the Cisadane River. The poisonous goods were caught in a floating bridge in the Cisadane River Garbage Bank (Banksasuci) area, Tangerang City.

Medical waste has started filling up the Cisadane River in Banksasuci since the landslide of the Cipeucang landfill (TPA) in South Tangerang in June 2020.