Masks v.s. The Environment

Masks are important. As the governments of the world enforce mask-wearing laws, few have taken the initiative to disseminate information on how to recycle or dispose of them. In the Mediterranean, people have found masks floating like jellyfish. In Hong Kong, masks have been found discarded on shorelines and lying around beaches.

As plastics already take up much of the space in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, will that area soon expand to accommodate the millions of disposable masks that are thrown away every day?

The answer is yes unless we do something about it.

Already, the masks that are discarded are interrupting the lives of marine creatures. Marine creatures often swallow the trash we put into the ocean, for example, plastic, and it either poisons them, acts as a factor for malnutrition, or kills them.

Not only is it deadly for animals, but it is also unhygienic, and unsightly for humans to find mounds of masks lying around beaches or forests.

So disposable masks are bad for the environment, but they’re essential to fighting coronavirus. It might seem that we’re facing a dilemma, however, there is a very simple solution.

Wearing reusable masks!

One Mask, One Life, One World, themselves, have made over 400 reusable masks for people in need. Imagine, how many disposable masks that’s saved!!

Note of caution, nonetheless, reusable masks must be regularly washed.

It is also wise to carry a spare reusable mask in your car, or backpack, to ensure that if you lose, or drop your mask, you don’t have to put on a disposable.

If you MUST wear disposable masks, it is critical to ensure that it is disposed of properly. Bring it home in a bag, and throw it straight into a bin with a lid. Do NOT put disposable masks in the recycling- they get stuck in recycling equipment, and can be potential biohazards for waste workers.

Most importantly, DO NOT litter your mask.

Until next time…

Wear a mask! But be environmentally conscious.

-Stay Curious, Sarah

Sources:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-hongkong-environme/discarded-coronavirus-masks-clutter-hong-kongs-beaches-trails-idUSKBN20Z0PP

https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-face-masks-an-environmental-disaster-that-might-last-generations-144328#:~:text=We%20know%20that%20in%20certain,surgical%20mask%20for%20seven%20days.&text=Over%20the%20medium%20to%20long,environments%20and%20break%20up%20ecosystems

Photo Source:

https://www.istockphoto.com/vector/coronavirus-covid-19-waste-and-pollution-in-oceans-gm1277499476-376685747