Quarantining, social distancing, sanitizing, and wearing masks, the Covid-19 has deeply influenced society in various ways. Although the shutdowns and quarantines have significantly decreased the rate of pollution, as the pandemic is coming to an end, another issue has risen to the surface: medical waste disposal. Also known as the red waste, most of the medical waste produced during the pandemic, such as surgical masks and gloves, syringes, and needles need to be disposed properly. As red waste are biohazardous wastes that have been in contact with potentially infectious agents, including body fluids and body parts, they must go through specific disposal methods to prevent the spread of disease as well as the severe impact it can cause to not only the ecosystem and environment but also humans in the long run.

Generally, red wastes have two main disposal methods: incineration and landfill disposal. Before being sent to landfills or being incinerated, red wastes go through a process of autoclaving, more commonly referred to as steam sterilization. Using high heat and pressure, the pathogens on the waste that transmit diseases are killed. However, issues occur when the wastes do not go through the autoclaving process, allowing the pathogens to reach the landfills. While general wastes impact only part of the biodiversity through physical causes like choking, strangling, or bioaccumulation within organisms, the seeping of red wastes can impact the entire ecosystem. 

As red wastes in the form of runoffs seep into aquifers, the pathogens in the waste will come in contact with humans, increasing the potential for infection. Not only can the seeping of red wastes directly impact humans but also can indirectly impact them, through the Harmful Algae Bloom (HAB). Often referred to as red tides, HAB is a phenomenon that occurs when algae, specifically Karenia and Karenia Brevis, overgrow due to an excess amount of nutrients, which red wastes supply. Notorious for the toxins they produce, the algae are fatal to many aquatic animals and harmful to humans. The decomposition of the carcasses of animals lead to eutrophication and damages the water quality. As the bodies of water are at the core of most ecosystems, it is crucial to prevent the seeping of red wastes. 

To avoid the possible risks, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have set up strict regulations for hospitals to dispose of red wastes separately in biohazardous plastic bags and bins, also known as “red bags” and “red bins.” After being transported manually to the final biowaste collection bins, the wastes then go through autoclaving. However, due to the pandemic, both hospitals and households where rapid at-home test kits are used have been producing the medical wastes, thus having most red wastes disposed of as general wastes.

Although federal laws, regulations, and stricter standards for the disposal of red wastes have been created before the pandemic by multiple governmental agencies including OSHA and EPA, their effect on the current situation is insignificant and outdated. For example, the Hospital Medical Infectious Waste Incinerator (HMIWI) standards established by EPA were last revised in May 2013. Currently, the process of red waste disposal is strict and complicated, prohibiting the contact with public facilities after being in the process of disposal. Additionally, the red bins and boxes are not provided to the public; people must pay for the biohazardous containers. Furthermore, without having final biowaste collection bins easily accessible to the public, most civilians will choose to dispose the red waste as general waste, causing environmental and health issues.

The use of reusable medical products will surely decrease the red wastes, but with the pandemic, that is not feasible. Instead, more effective actions must be taken by the governmental agencies. Efforts should be made in order to inform the public about the importance of proper disposal as well as the location of the final collection bins through the development of apps and websites. Furthermore, existing laws and regulations, including the HMIWI standards, must be enforced and updated in order to have effect on the post-pandemic society.