Bangkok, (NNT) – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is asking the public to help sort contaminated rubbish, especially masks, Antigen test-kits, tissue paper, single-use utensils, water bottles, and straws, and put it into a separate bag, as the amount of contaminated trash has been spiking in recent months.
Since the virus outbreak in April, which was fueled by crowds in pubs and bars, then again in June and July with the arrival of the even-more contagious Delta variant, the increase in infected trash feeding into the system has become continuous.
In Bangkok alone, the month of August saw daily incoming contaminated trash rise to 126.7 tons (70.38 tons contaminated, and 56.32 tons of COVID-19 of infected trash), a number more than double the 61.19 tons in April.
Monthly volume of contaminated waste in Bangkok:
April: 61.19 tons (contaminated: 45.77 tons, COVID-19 Infected: 15.41 tons)
May: 71.24 tons (contaminated: 47.86 tons, COVID-19 Infected: 23.38 tons)
June: 83.86 tons (contaminated: 53.41 tons, COVID-19 Infected: 30.45 tons)
July: 98.83 tons (contaminated: 61.18 tons, COVID-19 Infected: 37.65 tons)
August: 126.7 tons (contaminated: 70.38 tons, COVID-19 Infected: 56.32 tons)
Bangkok’s incinerators capable of disposing of hazardous waste, handle 70 tons a day, already exceeding their intended capacity.
The public is, therefore, requested to help authorities by placing all COVID-19 contaminated waste into a plastic bag and labeling it ’infectious waste,’ then spraying it with disinfectant before sealing the bag tight.
Meanwhile, the Municipality is also installing additional special bins for the public to use for the safe disposal of hazardous waste.
