Challenges in PPE Waste Management

The video discusses the initial shortage of PPE during the early days of COVID-19 and the subsequent increase in production to meet demand. This surge in PPE production has led to significant plastic waste, with millions of tons ending up in landfills. The video highlights the challenges of recycling PPE, especially from hospitals, due to contamination risks. It emphasizes the importance of reducing and reusing before recycling as part of effective waste management strategies.

What was a major issue for healthcare workers at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic?

• Increased patient load

• Limited hospital space

• Shortage of PPE

• Lack of training

How many masks are needed daily in one hospital according to the transcript?

• 1,000

• 100,000

• 200

• 70,000

What is the estimated amount of clean plastic waste generated annually in the U.S.?

• 500,000 tons

• 1 million tons

• 2 million tons

• 5 million tons

Where does most of the PPE plastic waste end up?

• Recycled

• Landfills

• Incinerated

• Composted

What did the Ocean Conservancy collect during the second half of 2020?

• Food wrappers

• PPE waste

• Glass bottles

• Plastic bottles

What is a significant challenge in recycling hospital PPE waste?

• Lack of technology

• High cost

• Contamination risks

• Insufficient demand

Why are recyclers hesitant to process hospital waste?

• It is too expensive

• It requires special equipment

• It is too time-consuming

• It may contain hazardous materials

Which program is mentioned as targeting consumer PPE waste?

• RecycleNow

• EcoCycle

• TerraCycle

• GreenWaste

What is the first step in the waste management hierarchy?

• Dispose

• Reduce

• Reuse

• Recycle

What is the Cleveland Clinic doing to address its plastic waste issue?

• Increasing PPE usage

• Rethinking waste management strategies

• Building more landfills

• Partnering with TerraCycle