Health deparment urged: Submit COVID-19 medical waste disposal report

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has passed a resolution urging the City Health Department (CHD) to submit a status report on the disposal of COVID-19 medical waste such as used syringes, facemasks, kits, and old vaccine bottles.

Councilor Alvin Dizon, who sponsored the resolution, said it would pose a risk to public health if COVID-19 medical waste is not properly disposed of.

Apart from this, it will also cause damage to the environment.

Dizon cited a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) which said that COVID-19 pandemic waste poses a danger to the environment and human health.

The council also passed an ordinance last year punishing people who fail to dispose of their used face masks and other protective equipment that could potentially contribute to the spread of COVID-19.

Dizon, who also authored the ordinance, said that due to the ongoing threat of COVID-19 it is also normal that the amount of waste consisting of face masks and other items related to self-protection against COVID has also increased.

One of the things that alarmed Dizon in the past was the photo taken by the advocacy group, EcoWaste Coalition, where garbage was seen littering the streets and in streams which include discarded face masks, containers of alcohol and sanitizer and more.

In the ordinance, it is said that used facemasks must be cut so that these cannot be recycled, placed in a container, disinfected and can be labeled “used facemask.”

In addition to the face mask, the ordinance also prohibits the improper disposal of face shields, hand gloves and other types of PPE.

Individuals who violate this would pay a P1,000 to P3,000 fine.

The establishments which cannot comply with it can pay a fine of P3,000 to P5,000 or cancellation of business permit. —GMR  (FREEMAN)