As the waste from the Covid hospitals and quarantine centers don’t go to normal waste collection sites in Thimphu, it is currently being burnt in the open in Bhutan. Hospitals are waiting for environment clearance for the incinerator the Rotary Club promised to donate. 

Sonam Tenzing, speaking to the Kuensel, said, “We have no choice; we will have to continue with open-pit burning if we can’t incinerate.” Earlier the quarantine facilities used to generate 500kg waste which is down to 50 kg now. 

The Rotary Club has agreed to donate two medical incinerators of 30      kg to hospitals but the plans are stonewalled due to the absence of environment clearance from the National Environment Commission.

Sonam P Wangdi, secretary of National Environment Commission, said, “Because of the emergency situation NEC issued the clearance to incinerate Covid-19 waste but with the condition that they will install the gas cleaning plant.” The incinerators of the rotary club don’t have equipment called as a gas cleaning plant.