Over the past time, Da Nang has developed plans and closely coordinated with garbage collection units in a bid to ensure safety in the prevention and control of COVID-19 and thoroughly treat medical waste as well as domestic garbage of COVID-19 patients (F0)

The central branch of Hanoi Urban Environment Limited Company – URENCO has invested in specialized vehicles to collect and transport garbage in Ngu Hanh Son District. Photo: VAN HOANG

A dangerous job

According to Ms Sang, a sweeper worker of the central branch of Hanoi Urban Environment Limited Company – URENCO, who is collecting medical waste of F0s who are being treated at home in Lien Chieu District, in the process of collecting medical waste, sanitation workers always try to protect themselves as this is the job helps them earn money for living. Therefore, they have to encourage each other to try more and hope for a new solution to classify F0's waste so as not to be confused with other household waste.

Currently, all workers of the Central URENCO Branch are fully vaccinated with 3 doses of vaccines. They also must comply with regulations on COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control such as wearing protective suits, anti-droplet glasses, and disinfecting all the body as performing their job. Still, their biggest difficulty is not knowing which houses have patients confirmed with COVID-19.

“In the beginning, we were more proactive since the posting of notices in front of houses with infected cases was updated in a timely manner. However, the number of F0s has increased far much that it is slowed down. Some people even have not declared their infection with COVID-19 so we have to work hard every day to complete the work in accordance with regulations and wait for transportation to be processed so as not to leave garbage behind," said Ms Van, a worker at the Central Urenco branch.

As shared by Ms Hoang Thi Ngoc Hieu, Deputy General Director of Da Nang Urban Environment Joint Stock Company, sanitation workers have to combine the collection of domestic and medical waste due to the lack of human resources and the large collection area. For waste from COVID-19 patients’ households, the company has collected it to the assigned local dump, then another unit has been in charge of transporting it for treatment at the incinerator according to regulations.

Necessity of raising people's awareness

According to the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment, people's awareness is the first factor for the garbage collection from F0s’ households to be convenient and ensure the prevention and control of the pandemic. This is such an issue since if  COVID-19 patients make dishonest declarations, causing their waste to be mixed with other people’s household garbage, it will pose a risk of infection to the collectors as well as to the community. Many people even do not take their garbage out in front of the door at the correct time frame, making it difficult for collection and transportation.

Mr Ngo Le Quang, Director of the Central Urenco Branch, said that to facilitate the collection of garbage from F0s’ homes, the company has arranged a motorbike for each worker to move around to collect garbage in residential areas. After that,  the garbage collection team will go to the points listed by the People's Committee of the wards to collect waste from the F0s' homes.

Moreover, in a bid to share difficulties with the sanitation workers, Mr Nguyen Minh Hoang, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hoa Hiep Bac Ward, Lien Chieu District said that the locality has actively coordinated with the Central Urenco branch to send the list and address of each family of F0 who is home-based treated and agree on a collection time frame for the company to collect conveniently, effectively and safely. In addition, the ward has also strengthened announcements and propaganda to each household for people to grasp regulations and then implement.

As shared by Mr Vo Nguyen Chuong, Deputy Director of the municipal  Department of Natural Resources and Environment, currently, the garbage collection from COVID-19 patients’ homes has been conducted by Da Nang Urban Environment Joint Stock Company and Central Urenco Branch in accordance with the regulated process.

Accordingly, garbage must be collected from the place of residence to the temporary gathering place within 24 hours. Temporary gathering locations shall be decided by the district People's Committee or by the ward-based People's Committee to be suitable for the number of F0s cases in the locality. At the temporary gathering place, it is necessary to organize the implementation of storage measures to ensure compliance with regulations and transfer to competent units for transportation and treatment in accordance with regulations on hazardous waste.

Reporting by ANH NHU- Translating by T.VY