Medical Waste Firms Brace for Coronavirus

Medical waste management firms in China saw volumes increase ~600% in Wuhan as infection spread. Per an article in the WSJ, Chinese officials stated that medical-waste facilities were at or near capacity in 29 cities.

Companies in the U.S. do not yet know how volumes will grow in the coming weeks. Offsetting the growth is the decline in waste generated by elective surgeries and procedures as well as the significant decline in dentist visits. The article also claims that this disease does not generate as much waste per patient compared against other prior crises such as Ebola.

Needless to say volumes are expected to increase. Whether or not demand was expected to overwhelm capacity in aggregate was not addressed.

crisis waste management
Source: Saabira Chaudhuri | "Trash Industry Braces for Potential Deluge of Coronavirus Waste" | The Wall Street Journal | 03/30/2020 | Visit