What Disposable Masks Do To Our Environment

Photo Credit: The New York Times

In most public spaces around the world face mask are a legal requirement. Despite millions of people around the world being told to use face masks, little guidance has been given on how to dispose of or recycle them safely. And as countries begin to lift lockdown restrictions, billions of masks will be needed each month globally.

The majority of masks are manufactured from long-lasting plastic materials, and if discarded can persist in the environment for hundreds of years. Over the medium to long term, animals and plants are also affected. Through its sheer mass, plastic waste can smother environments and break up ecosystems. Some animals also cannot tell the difference between plastic items and their prey, subsequently choking on pieces of litter.

What can you do/call to action?

1. Don’t put disposable masks in the recycling. They can get caught in specialist recycling equipment and be a potential biohazard to waste workers.

2. Whatever you do, don’t litter them!

3. Get a reusable mask as an alternative!

Credits:

Environmental implications of plastic debris in marine settings—entanglement, ingestion, smothering, hangers-on, hitch-hiking and alien invasions (nih.gov)

Coronavirus face masks: an environmental disaster that might last generations (theconversation.com)