Can plastic waste management be a novel solution in combating the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)? A short research note

Abstract

The year 2020 has been noted to be one of major calamity the world over, in which the majority of efforts in research and development have been dedicated towards combating the threat of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Ever since the announcement of COVID-19 as a pandemic, such efforts were dedicated towards the research of its spread and vaccination. Yet still, the world might reach a resolution via an environmental solution that various entities have overlooked, with a plethora of environmental benefits vis-à-vis waste management. In this short communication, the possibility of using plastic solid waste as a substrate to employ copper, and copper alloys and their nanocomposite nanopowders to be used as permanent surface protective coats, is presented. The fact that we present such materials to be of waste origin, is an added value advantage to their beneficial advantage of developing various commodities and products that could be used in our daily lives. Furthermore, the fact that such recyclable materials are susceptible to antiviral properties and chemicals, is an added value that we should not neglect.