UNAIR NEWS – The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases viruses has now reached 6,248 people and claimed 535 lives per April 18, 2020. It will have an impact on health care facilities which will produce massive amounts of infectious waste. Reporting from the Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL) the amount of infectious waste in Indonesia in early April 2020 has increased by 8,580 tons.
In commemoration of the Earth Day commemorated on April 22, the Ministry of Social and Politics of Faculty of Law Student Executive Board held a webinar themed “Government Policy in Handling COVID-19 Pandemic Infection Waste”. With Dr. Suparto Wijaya SH, M.Hum, an UNAIR Environmental Law Specialist and Head of the ICEL Pollution Control Division, Fajri Fadhillah as the speakers, the webinar was held on Saturday afternoon, April 18, 2020 via Google Meet.
Suparto Wijaya explained that in the household sphere, COVID-19 pandemic infectious waste can also be produced. The waste is generated from the people with status as person under surveillance (ODP) and patients under treatment (PDP). But unfortunately, the fact that the waste poses the risk of transmission of COVID-19 virus is still greatly underestimated or even not thought of by the community. According to Suparto, it was caused by the absence of government regulations on waste management procedures.
“Until now, the average solid waste of ODP and PDP people who are doing independent isolation at home is still managed by informal cleaning workers just like ordinary garbage. Though, of course, this is very dangerous, the waste produced by them should not be mixed with ordinary waste. The risk of transmission here is very high for janitors, final disposal site officers, and the surrounding environment itself,” Suparto said.
According to Fajri Fadhillah, another factor related to this great urgency, for government to immediately prepare legal products on the problem, is to suppress the accumulation of infectious waste. Based on ICEL research, he showed that the amount of infectious waste managed in Indonesia to date is only 57%. It happens due to the lack of infectious waste treatment facilities such as incinerators, which are still Javanese-centric. Fajri, also gave recommendations related to how the government policy regulates infectious waste management in households.
“Infectious waste, for example masks, must be cut into pieces and then put in 2-layer plastic bags. It would also be nice if it is stored for a few days before being thrown into the trash. Regarding who can collect the waste must also be regulated and must be equipped with PPE. This waste cannot be discharged directly to the final disposal site, but must be sterilized first, “said the alumni of Faculty of Law, University of Indonesia.
Author: Pradnya Wicaksana
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
