A Review of Medical Waste Management Systems in the Republic of Korea for Hospital and Medical Waste Generated from the COVID-19 Pandemic

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The paper is A review of medical waste management systems in the Republic of Korea for effective management of hospital and medical waste generated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In general, the presentation of a paper and the COMPLETE information ensure its publication. In this case, especially the presentation /shape of the paper must be drastically improved. Text has also must be improved as some important content is missing (Tables). Graphical part is totally missing. Please see below my suggestions related to the actual text (without tables):

Please draft the manuscript according to the instructions for authors you can find at the link https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability/instructions 

Before the title it must be mentioned the type of the paper (Article, Review, etc.)

Pagination is missing.

Keywords are missing. They must to reflect the main characteristic words of the paper (usually reflected also by the title) in the best way to increase the paper's relevance and chances to be find when searching it after key words. So, I suggest the following Keywords: medical waste; Republic of Korea; effective management; hospital/medical waste; COVID-19 pandemic. 

Please add reference to sentence finished in L38 - I suggest: Bungau, S.; et al. Aspects regarding the pharmaceutical waste management in Romania. Sustainability, 10(8), 2018, 2788. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10082788 ;  Bungau S., Suciu R., Bumbu A., Cioca G., Tit D.M. Study on hospital waste management in medical rehabilitation clinical hospital, Baile Felix, J. Environ. Prot. Ecol., 16(3), 2015, 980-987. ; Bungau S., Bungau C, Tit D.M. Studies about last stage of product lifecycle management for a pharmaceutical product, J. Environ. Prot. Ecol., 16(1), 2015, 56-62.

Please make the aim of the study (L59-66) a last separate paragraph.

Tables 1 to 6 are mentioned in the text but they are missing. Please insert them.

As being a Review, it must be much better supported by references. Many long paragraphs are not supported at all i.e. L313-333. In this paragraph also must be specified if it is about the specific case of Republic of Korea, or in general. About masks (types, legislation, management, etc.) , you may refer to Otrisal, P.; et al. Selected Respiratory Protective Devices: Respirators and Significance of Some Markings. Sustainability 2021, 13, 4988. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13094988

L455. Exemplify strengths and weakness you mentioned.

Author Response

Specific comments

The presented line number in “Author response” can be checked in the file titled “Revised Manuscript(With Track Changes)

Reviewer 2 Report

The references must be shown as progressive numbers in brackets, as indicated in the instructions for the authors; please change also the size of the margins as shown in the template for the publication in Sustainability.

Figures 1-4; tables 1-4: please add the references of the data in the captions, or in a column (for the table).

Figure 4: correct acummulative into accumulative

Author Response

Specific comments

The presented line number in “Author response” can be checked in the file titled “Revised Manuscript(With Track Changes)

Reviewer 3 Report

This is an interesting paper. 

1. The author should differentiate between Results and Discussion Chapters.
2. In the Discussion chapters, the authors must relate the results with the previous studies from Asia and outside. 
3. Some policy and planning implications of the research should be incorporated. The authors shall mention the limitations of the study. 
4.  The Reference is very weak in this paper.  Authors may to have further literature review. 

Author Response

Specific comments

The presented line number in “Author response” can be checked in the file titled “Revised Manuscript(With Track Changes)

Reviewer 4 Report

The paper by Min-Yong Lee and co-workers deals with a very interesting topic:   management systems  of hospital and medical  waste generated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The paper is well written and structured with clear figures and tables where are reported interesting data.

This reviewer has only a suggestion: the current title is repetitive, too long and it has to be changed for example with this :  "Effective management systems in the Republic of Korea of hospital and medical  waste generated  from  the COVID-19 pandemic". 

Author Response

Specific comments

The presented line number in “Author response” can be checked in the file titled “Revised Manuscript(With Track Changes)

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors responded to my requests.

Reviewer 2 Report

I am sorry but I can't download the new version of your paper, so I can't check your corrections.

Please try to upload it again.

Thank you