COVID-19 waste is infectious and many large cities across the world have drawn up guidelines regarding double bagging, handling and disposal.  In cities which have common facilities are available, waste is disposed by in their incinerators.  Some common facilities are unable to handle the huge additional loads of COVID waste in addition to the other bio-medical wastes that they normally handle.

Transporting COVID-19 waste is fraught with problems of:

-                  too many people handling the waste

-                  spillage during transport

-                  possibility of infection being spread to other areas

It is best to treat this waste on site, where it is generated. Considering the current situation caused by the pandemic, regulatory authorities should permit the use of a small incinerator which can be mounted on the hospital’s terrace.  The machine can be run for 4 to 6 hours every day with no possibility of pollution. There is no need for APC equipment as the waste consisting of face masks, gloves, etc. is made up of paper and burnable plastics.

Haat`s incinerators are designed such that no visible smoke comes out (Ringleman scale 1). It will have very low fuel consumption as the waste has a decent calorific value. Incineration is the only option here.

To summarise the advantages:

-                  dispose of waste at point of generation

-                  restricted contact with waste

-                  no transportation, spillage and infection

-                  no smoke and odour

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We hope people concerned will consider this in order to contain transmission of the virus.