The COVID-19 resource centre, established by Elsevier in January 2020, provides free information in English and Mandarin on the novel coronavirus. The centre is hosted on Elsevier Connect and grants permission for all COVID-19-related research to be immediately available in PubMed Central and other public repositories, with unrestricted reuse and analysis rights. This research examines the positive and negative indirect effects of COVID-19 on the environment, focusing on countries like China, the USA, Italy, and Spain. Positive effects include improved air quality, cleaner beaches, and reduced environmental noise. Negative effects include increased waste generation and a decrease in recycling programs. The study highlights that while the pandemic has led to temporary reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, these reductions are not sustainable without long-term structural changes in economies. The authors emphasize the importance of proper waste management, especially medical waste, to mitigate secondary health and environmental impacts.The COVID-19 resource centre, established by Elsevier in January 2020, provides free information in English and Mandarin on the novel coronavirus. The centre is hosted on Elsevier Connect and grants permission for all COVID-19-related research to be immediately available in PubMed Central and other public repositories, with unrestricted reuse and analysis rights. This research examines the positive and negative indirect effects of COVID-19 on the environment, focusing on countries like China, the USA, Italy, and Spain. Positive effects include improved air quality, cleaner beaches, and reduced environmental noise. Negative effects include increased waste generation and a decrease in recycling programs. The study highlights that while the pandemic has led to temporary reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, these reductions are not sustainable without long-term structural changes in economies. The authors emphasize the importance of proper waste management, especially medical waste, to mitigate secondary health and environmental impacts.