Using environmental impact assessments (EIAs), a project can be evaluated for its effects on different sectors and activities, and finally, solutions are offered based on the results of this assessment [1]. Since 1975, major construction projects have been required to prepare an EIA report by government approvals and legislative assemblies to ensure environmental protection and sustainable development. The preparation of this report was a requirement of national laws after the completion of municipal waste landfill plans [2]. Increasing amounts of municipal solid waste (MSW) are a concern for people all over the world [3]. In developing countries, urbanization and improving living standards have increased the amount and complexity of MSW [4]. In the absence of an EIA, a MSW disposal site can lead to severe negative environmental impacts. Environmental risks from unsanitary landfills, especially within hospitals and industries that dispose of waste, resulted in the replacement of traditional methods with environmentally sound and sustainable ones [5].
During EIA projects, the primary objective is to achieve a better knowledge of the existing landfill situation and, based on that, to present appropriate enforcement strategies for improving the environment and reducing pollution caused by landfills [6]. One way to assess landfills is through a rapid impact assessment matrix (RIAM) [7]. As a result of its ability to integrate all parts and parameters, this method is ideal for determining a project's environmental impacts rapidly and transparently [8]. The use of RIAM is also recommended, because of its advantages. This eliminates subjectivity and facilitates transparency and objectivity. The process of operation is documented concurrently with the EIA for the project, reducing the amount of time required for the process [9]. As a practical matter, RIAM provides an easy way the utilize distinguish procedures; due to each cell, a specialist will have information on the magnitude and importance of impact, and lastly, the user will be can conclude. RIAM uses a range of environmental scores (ES) to calculate the overall results that can be compared to each other. The ES is assigned to each component and is classified into ranges [10].
Several municipal essential services were disrupted by COVID-19, including the management of municipal solid waste (MSW). By segregating waste streams and treating them separately, waste and waste management can reduce environmental, health, and social impacts [11].
Depending on disposal activities, MSW and SMW have a global warming potential ranging from 0.64–520 (kg) carbon equivalence/tonne and 52.1–3730 (kg) carbon equivalence/tonne, ordinary. According to [12], MSW disposal costs ranged from 90 - $242/tonne, and SMW disposal costs ranged from 12 to $1530/tonne.
COVID-19 impacted waste collection and organization in various ways, affecting waste segregation and recycling. The raised utilization of single-use plastics is responsible for Averting the extension of COVID-19 in various sectors since the beginning of the pandemic. Waste management problems can be exacerbated by environmentally friendly alternatives to single-use plastics [13]. Even though multiple initiatives are being taken to deal with the increase of MSW and SMW and to prevent infectious disease outbreaks, Movable grate burning technology, combined with a suitable disinfection process, could be a viable solution to COVID-19's waste problem. Waste management systems can be made more sustainable if disinfection methods and technological choices are chosen appropriately [14]. Multiple initiatives are in progress to control the spread of infectious diseases, while also managing an increase in MSW and SMW. Waste management systems, especially those that deal with contaminated waste, can become more sustainable if disinfection methods and technology choices are made appropriately [14, 13].
To predict the environmental consequences of any development project, an EIA is one of the proven legal and predictive tools. Impact studies employ a variety of EIA methods, but not all of them are equally effective. EIA methods and their interrelationships are most encouraging as a result of the dissemination of information. In addition to being time-consuming and costly, conventional environmental impact assessments are often subjectively biased. An EIA based on conventional procedures is not sufficient for comprehensively managing environmentally sensitive development projects. Consequently, GIS provides unbiased and interpretable EIAs that overcome the limitations of conventional EIAs. To evaluate road development's environmental impacts, GIS is considered the best technique. The waste flow rate in municipal waste management facilities is normally predictable and steady, with seasonal fluctuations. Medical waste volumes increased dramatically during COVID-19, while MSW volumes increased and decreased in different regions [39,40]. According to state statistics [41], MSW and organic waste generated in New York were both up 3.3% and 13.3% during the COVID-19 pandemic, respectively.
Catalonia and Barcelona, however, have produced less municipal waste respectively by 16.7% and 25.0%. Some Chinese provinces have also produced less MSW [42]. SMW was managed by 46 mobile waste management plants deployed by the city. Healthcare waste generation is expected to increase in Romania, with medical waste contributing 10.9 percent, and quarantine waste contributing 17.2 percent, respectively, to total waste generation. Several regions have experienced increases in agricultural waste generation because of disruptions in supply chains (SC) and processing facility closures that caused perishable foods to spoil [43]. Multiple causes and effects led to the decrease in MSW during COVID-19. Takeout food and food delivered to residences have been packaged with single-use plastics following the implementation of quarantine [44].
In addition to technical, economic, and environmental factors, social acceptance contributes to the process as well as the choice of disinfection technology [45]. As a result of the outbreak, the current waste management (WM) systems have been swamped with waste [46]. The USA reported that COVID-19 generated 530 million tonnes of waste in a given year [47].
According to estimates, there will be 63,000 tonnes of plastic waste produced in Canada from personal protective equipment (PPE) related to COVID-19 [48]. Tehran experienced significant air quality challenges during the excessive outbreak. Air quality could be improved by lockdowns and urban activity limitations [49]. COVID-19 affected urban air quality in a variety of ways across countries, but various economic and social situations affected responses alternatively, resulting in significant environmental justice implications [50]. COVID-19 resulted in residents of Tehran continuing to work despite the infrequent nationwide stay-at-home orders [51].
Many developing countries have been affected by COVID-19 based on their lifestyles, the kind and quantity of waste they produce, and how they manage it. COVID-19 has been reported to have caused 14,205,416 instances confirmed worldwide and 599,716 deaths [52] in Iran, where 269,440 affirmed items have resulted in 13,791 deaths. In Iran, solid waste is often disposed of in inefficiently managed landfills where waste pickers could scavenge for recyclable materials without wearing appropriate PPE. Over 18 million metric tons of MSW are produced each year in Iran, the 18th most populous country globally [53].
As Fig. 3 illustrates, COVID-19 significantly influenced the spa and goodness industry, as organizations closed or had to perform strict hygiene protocols and rules. Spa industry professionals worldwide were surveyed in March 2020 and 92 percent said they provided hand sanitizers to guests. Twenty percent said they banned employee travel.