| المستخلص: |
Purpose: This paper seeks to review the influence of COVID- 19 on medical waste management and its interplay with CE with a special focus on Egypt as a case study. Methodology: This paper employs a systematic literature analysis to discover and investigate the relevant studies with the purpose of analysing the effects of COVID-19 on global medical waste management, using Egypt as a case study. For the purpose of this analysis, a top-down approach has been adopted where the study begins with a global review, then proceeds its investigation on Egypt as the case study. In order to assess the viability of CE strategies for strengthening the responsiveness of existing policies and practises to the threats posed by the worldwide pandemic, this study examines more research on the various CE strategies for managing medical waste. Results: The COVID-19 outbreak has significantly increased global, regional, and local medical waste generation. Given the risks posed by medical waste to the environment and human health, sustainable management and disposal of medical waste constitutes a considerable challenge, especially for developing countries, including Egypt, as the quantity of medical waste significantly outpaces the waste management capacities. CE could aid the transition to an environment-friendly approach of medical waste management through extending the lifespan of medical products and reusing/recycling medical instruments considering the environmental risks linked with the traditional methods of medical waste management. In Egypt COVID-19 has resulted in a number of challenges for medical waste management. Despite the existence of a sufficient regulatory framework, there still exists a number of financial and institutional restrictions. The shift towards CE strategies in Egypt results in different economic, environmental, and social benefits. Conclusion: This paper reviewed the influence of COVID-19 on medical waste management and its interplay with CE with a special focus on Egypt as a case study. It further analysed the potential prospects for adopting a CE approach in different sectors, including waste management, highlighting its role specifically in mitigating the risks of COVID-19 on medical waste management.
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