Medical waste treatment from COVID-19 pandemic – DMECO

The Covid19 pandemic has impacted the world economy by showing the vulnerability of nations to ensure their health autonomy. Lebanon is not immune to this crisis which is worsening due to the absence of a national waste treatment strategy, compounded by an economic and social crisis.
The objective of the DMECO project is to study the socio-technical, economic and environmental feasibility of treating medical waste (masks, personal protective equipment, etc.) from the Covid19 pandemic and to find solutions. The project aims to demonstrate the relevance of a systematized circular economy strategy to respond to socio-economic situations in an uncertain context. In-depth research will take place in the techniques used for the treatment of this waste, as well as an experiment in the recycling of masks and recyclable plastics from personal protective equipment.