Medical Waste in the Pre-pandemic and Pandemic Period of COVID-19

Medical waste is generated during the provision of care, protection, and preservation of human health, as well as through various services that involve contact with blood and bodily secretions. Procedures for the proper collection and disposal of waste, including medical waste, are a crucial component of public health preservation, as they prevent the direct or indirect transmission of infection. With the advancement of waste management systems, the management of medical waste has also evolved - from its point of origin to final disposal. Medical waste management includes the collection, transportation, processing, and disposal of the waste. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant increase in the production of medical and pharmaceutical waste, with four times more medical waste generated in 2020 than in 2019. According to data from the Register of Environmental Pollution (Croatian abbrev. ROO), 96 % of reported medical waste was classified under category 18 01 03* - waste that requires special collection and disposal procedures to prevent infection. The aim of this study was to point out the differences in the amounts of medical and pharmaceutical waste generated before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Split-Dalmatia County, as well as the procedures for their disposal.