Implementation of COVID-19 Infection Prevention Measures in Municipal Solid Waste Collection Services

Abstract

The municipal solid waste collection service is one of the most important lifelines that support social life. Especially in the event of a pandemic such as COVID-19, the quarantine function of promptly removing waste from the city is demonstrated. Therefore, it is necessary to continue the service without delay even when the infection spreads and social activities stagnate, and it is necessary to introduce effective infection prevention measures that are balanced with smooth implementation of collection services. We conducted a questionnaire survey of municipalities with jurisdiction over refuse collection services to investigate infection prevention measures adopted in a series of refuse collection operations during the COVID-19 outbreak that began in 2020. In accordance with the characteristic that droplet infection is the main route of infection, the municipalities adopted the following infection prevention measures in their MSW collection operations: avoidance of the so-called "three Cs" of " closed spaces", "crowded places" and "close - contact settings" and disinfection of the inside of vehicles.