Estimation of the healthcare waste generation during COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh.

COVID-19 pandemic-borne wastes imposed a severe threat to human lives as well as the total environment. Improper handling of these wastes increases the possibility of future transmission. Therefore, immediate actions are required from both local and international authorities to mitigate the amount of waste generation and ensure proper disposal of these wastes, especially for low-income and developing countries where solid waste management is challenging. In this study, an attempt is made to estimate healthcare waste generated during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. This study includes infected, ICU, deceased, isolated and quarantined patients as the primary sources of medical waste. Results showed that COVID-19 medical waste from these patients was 658.08 tons in March 2020 and increased to 16,164.74 tons in April 2021. A top portion of these wastes was generated from infected and quarantined patients. Based on survey data, approximate daily usage of face masks and hand gloves is also determined. Probable waste generation from COVID-19 confirmatory tests and vaccination has been simulated. Finally, several guidelines are provided to ensure the country's proper disposal and management of COVID-related wastes.

Design of a Stand-Alone Energy Hybrid System for a Makeshift Health Care Center: A Case Study

Worldwide, health care sectors are experiencing massive pressure due to the emergence of COVID-19. Many temporary health care centers have been set up to treat infected patients. Increasing energy consumption in these centers is responsible for both rising energy demand and emission. Implementation of renewable energy-based hybrid stone-alone systems can play a vital role in optimizing increasing energy demand. The aim of this analysis is to design a stand-alone system for a temporary health care center located in Saint Martin Island, Bangladesh. This is the first study which highlights the power management of a hospital load. Homer Pro software is used to design the preliminary model, and the proposed configuration comprises PV/Converter/WIND/Battery/Generator. It is observed that the Levelized cost of the proposed system is $0.4688. This system's Levelized cost of energy (LCOE) is 35% lower than the solar home system (SHS). The payback period (PB), rate of investment (ROI), and internal rate of return (IROR) of the optimized system are seven years, 10, and 13%, respectively. The proposed configuration is environmentally sustainable as it generates 27% less CO2 than a diesel-based fuel system.