Title: Long-term environmental impact of COVID-19 pandemic: derailed single-use plastic ban

Authors: Mitu Mewada; Susy Albert

Addresses: Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, India ' Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, India

Abstract: The earth's climate is encountering positive ecological benefits of the pandemic as clean seashores, improved air quality and decreased environmental noise have been witnessed. On other hand increase in single-use plastics today may leave the drawn-out effect on our biological system. This article covers how COVID-19 pandemic is indirectly affecting the earth. The virus has brought plastic into our lives like never before in form of masks, gloves, personal protective equipment (PPE) coveralls and body bags which is without a doubt leading to increase in plastic pollution and hence triggering health concerns. The plastic boycott in India has been generously postponed because of current needs. Every day the whole world is battling against coronavirus. It is at the same time seething the plastic waste issue which unfortunately cannot be fixed by vaccines and lockdowns.

Keywords: plastic waste; COVID-19 pandemic; environmental issue; plastic waste management; solid waste management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2024.142736

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2024 Vol.35 No.4, pp.422 - 429

Accepted: 06 Jul 2022
Published online: 20 Nov 2024 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article