Following the COVID-19 outbreak, medical waste pollution worsened due to a massive increase in discarded protective equipment (such as masks and gloves) and infectious hospital waste. This unprecedented surge overwhelmed waste disposal facilities, leading to the accumulation of untreated waste and improper disposal practices. Consequently, proper medical waste management—which typically includes careful sorting, secure containment in biohazard bags, and safe disposal to avoid harmful incineration—was severely challenged, increasing the risk of environmental contamination and viral spread.