The COVID-19 pandemic followed by imposition of lockdown has stopped or slowed down a number of commercial activities, helping our environment to heal itself and bounce back. Studies have shown that during this lockdown period, there has been a significant improvement in the air quality, the ozone layer has been replenished to a certain extent, water quality of several rivers has improved, noise pollution has reduced, animals and birds have found some space for themselves and are trying to revert back to their old activities. In return of these benefits, our environment is paying a huge price in the form of accumulation of tonnes of improperly disposed wastes.
Proper waste management had always been a serious challenge across the world. COVID-19 pandemic has further intensified this problem as it has triggered panic buying of food and basic protective equipment like face masks, face shields, gloves, PPE Kits, cleaning products and alcohol-based hand....
