ABSTRACT
This research examines the consequences of the COVID-19 epidemic on the production, use, and disposal of single-use plastics. This research explores the intricate relationships between the impacts of COVD-19 on single-use plastic production, usage, and waste management with a focus on the mediating effects of the pandemic related to model parameters and correlations to develop a trustworthy approach. The report examines first the increasing evidence regarding the pandemic's influence on various users and industries, and then the consequences for waste management and the environment. The research then examined the relationships and modelling framework correlations between the variables utilised to estimate the influence of COVID-induced changes in production, consumption, and management on single-use plastics. The study variables captured the influence of production, usage, and disposal on the environment. The study's parameters are equally linked to types of usage, have a pronominal effect, and disposal plays a vital role in the environmental impact, which makes them extremely dynamic for parameters in this study. Single-use plastic aggregation in the environment is predicted to be a dominant mechanism by disposal behaviour. © 2023 Institute of Physics Publishing. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
The demand of face masks had increased tremendously due to pandemic outbreak of COVID-19, leading to the increment production rate of face masks in Malaysia. Waste is also produced at the same time, resulting impacts towards the environment. Due to the land scarcity issue in Malaysia, the end of life treatment for the waste is taken into consideration. The study tools used in this study is life cycle assessment (LCA) to identify the significant potential environmental impact produced during the life cycle stages for distribution and disposal through GaBi Education Software. The disposal stage between landfill and incineration of the 3-Ply face masks is studied to determine the end of life treatment for it. The impact assessment method selected in this study is CML 2001-Jan 2016 with the environmental indicator of Global Warming Potential (GWP), Acidification Potential (AP), Eutrophication Potential (EP) and Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP). GWP results in producing highest impact to the environment during both distribution and disposal stages. The impact of GWP also relates to the climate change. Modern incineration is recommended to overcome the issue of land scarcity in Malaysia as the amount of waste by 3-Ply face masks are increasing due to the pandemic COVID-19, reducing the impacts towards the environment. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
ABSTRACT
Food waste is a type of solid waste that is heavily influenced by consumers. The composition (%) and the total weight generation (kg) of food waste were determined during the Covid-19 outbreak. The data was obtained by direct weighing of the food waste collected where it was generated throughout the day. Findings have shown that 63.3% of the composition of uncooked food waste types identified is generated by internal organs, vegetables, fruits, and eggshells, while 36.7% of the identified composition of cooked food waste types is generated by rice and noodles, bones, vegetables, fruits, and others in Desa Pandan. During six days of collection, the total food waste generated by 30 households, 10 restaurants, and 3 schools was 146.5 kg (0.20 kg/capita/day), 231.7 kg (0.026 kg/capita/day), and 155.4 kg (0.010 kg/capita/day) respectively. A food waste awareness survey was conducted online with 100 respondents using Google Forms. Findings show that the Covid-19 pandemic did influence people's attitudes and practices regarding food purchase, management, and consumption habits, all of which have a substantial impact on reducing food waste generation at the household level. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.