An estimated 8.4 million metric tons of mismanaged plastic waste was generated globally during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hospital medical waste accounted for the largest share of this total, at approximately 87 percent. PPE equipment such as face masks contributed the second-largest share, at 7.6 percent. Regionally, Asia accounted for almost half of the mismanaged plastic waste generated during the pandemic.
Distribution of mismanaged plastic waste attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic as of August 2021, by source
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The Guardian. (November 8, 2021). Distribution of mismanaged plastic waste attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic as of August 2021, by source [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1275568/mismanaged-plastic-waste-caused-by-covid-19-by-type/
The Guardian. "Distribution of mismanaged plastic waste attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic as of August 2021, by source." Chart. November 8, 2021. Statista. Accessed November 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1275568/mismanaged-plastic-waste-caused-by-covid-19-by-type/
The Guardian. (2021). Distribution of mismanaged plastic waste attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic as of August 2021, by source. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: November 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1275568/mismanaged-plastic-waste-caused-by-covid-19-by-type/
The Guardian. "Distribution of Mismanaged Plastic Waste Attributable to The Covid-19 Pandemic as of August 2021, by Source." Statista, Statista Inc., 8 Nov 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1275568/mismanaged-plastic-waste-caused-by-covid-19-by-type/
The Guardian, Distribution of mismanaged plastic waste attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic as of August 2021, by source Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1275568/mismanaged-plastic-waste-caused-by-covid-19-by-type/ (last visited November 22, 2024)
Distribution of mismanaged plastic waste attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic as of August 2021, by source [Graph], The Guardian, November 8, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1275568/mismanaged-plastic-waste-caused-by-covid-19-by-type/
