THERE were reports a few weeks ago about medical wastes, specifically how they were disposed. Missed in the reporting were the people taking charge of these wastes – and other kinds of wastes, for that matter – in this time of pandemic.
Several green groups insisted that unsung environmental frontliners, particularly waste workers, must also be considered as a priority sector for COVID-19 vaccination (A4 category).
Through a letter sent to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), they roundly appealed for the vaccine prioritization of workers involved in the management of municipal solid waste, healthcare waste, commercial and industrial waste, and hazardous waste.
Indeed, ensuring early access to COVID-19 vaccine will undeniably provide health and economic benefits to our waste workers and their families. Access to COVID-19 vaccine, especially for the marginalized groups, is health and economic justice.
Waste workers perform essential service to the community and the environment. They are engaged in a high-risk job that may involve contact with materials and surfaces possibly contaminated with SARS-CoV-2, that virus that causes COVID-19.
Low levels of waste segregation at source increase waste workers’ exposure to infectious waste. Yes, they are prone to occupational health risks resulting from mixed waste disposal, their manual handling of waste, and their lack of protective gear.
Informal waste workers who stand to benefit from early vaccination against the disease if the A4 category is further expanded by the IATF include waste pickers or reclaimers, itinerant waste buyers, jumpers at collection trucks, e-waste dismantlers, junk shop owners and others engaged in the recovery of recyclable materials to generate income.
Formal waste workers who could also benefit from prompt inoculation include waste collection crew, waste truck drivers, street sweepers and other waste and sanitation workers employed by local government units, waste management companies, homeowners’ associations, etc.
The vaccine against COVID-19 can be a good weapon especially by those in the waste/garbage sector whose work makes their health constantly exposed to danger. They are invaluable but they are at risk. Let us help them.
