FACING THE COMBINED CRISES OF COVID-19 AND SINGLE USE PLASTICS
As shared in this New York Times article, the advocacy group OceansAsia has estimated that as many as 1.5 billion face masks could wind up in the marine environment in a single year. That is too many!
The arrival and rapid spread of novel coronavirus (Covid-19) has turned our world upside down in more ways than one. Human health has suffered, medical systems have been pushed to the brink, supply chains have been disrupted and whole economies have reached crisis point.
If there was a silver lining at the time the pandemic arrived and forced lockdowns across the world, it was hopeful early reports of a positive impact on the planet. Early studies, such as this one in 2020, suggested the global environment would benefit from some changes, including significantly improved air quality, reduced GHGs emission, less water pollution and noise, and decreased pressure on the tourist destinations, which may assist with the restoration of the ecological system. Throughout 2020, the decline in travel and tourist activity resulted in global carbon emissions falling by 2.3 billion tons, a good development considering emissions had been rising until 2020.
Single-use PPE, including face masks, are only one of the elements of waste that have increased since the rapid spread of Covid-19.
However, of course, things are not that simple and the pandemic has had negative impacts on the environment, one of which is the increased levels of waste. People and governments were unprepared for the increased level of pollution caused by the pandemic, including a significant amount of single-use items that were discarded haphazardly and eventually reached our waterways. For relatively small items, the scale of this problem is huge: a new report from researchers in the U.S. and China shows over eight million tons of new pandemic-associated waste has been created, and specifically, about 26,000 tons of that have already ended up in the ocean.
This increase in waste is an issue globally, and is of even more significant concern in developing countries without established waste management systems.
Our marine environments, already struggling with pollution, are often where single-use items end up.
Facing the Problem
As shared in this New York Times article, the advocacy group OceansAsia has estimated that as many as 1.5 billion face masks could wind up in the marine environment in a single year. As well as entangling marine life and interfering with their ocean habitat, researchers in Canada recently estimated a single surgical-style mask on a sandy shoreline could unleash more than 16 million microplastics.
These tiny microplastics, far too small for the human eye to detect, can end up consumed by fish and have also been found in the bodies of humans. Microplastics are, as discussed in our journal post, a significant and long-lasting problem for both ocean and human health. Most importantly, their spread is preventable by using less plastic and disposing of it with proper waste systems.
The single-use masks that are commonly used are made of composite materials and are almost impossible to recycle. "They take around 450 years to break down if they're left in the environment. And even then, they're breaking into microplastics," according to Pip Kiernan, chair of Clean Up Australia. Discarded masks often end up in waterways, where they can release heavy metals and other pollutants.
So, to prevent pollution it is crucial to learn how to properly discard face masks in order to ensure they don’t end up in our oceans, lakes and rivers. Erin Simon, the head of plastic waste and business at the World Wildlife Fund says the goal is not to change the disposable mask space as it is a key part of medical safety protocols, however we need to ensure proper management of disposable face masks after they’re used.
The the best way to mitigate the impacts of (and help prevent) face mask pollution is disposing of them correctly and ensuring they do not enter the Earth’s ecosystem. It is important to throw away face masks in garbage cans that have a lid and a garbage bag that will be tied together when it’s removed to keep them from falling out or blowing away. Some environmental and activist organizations also recommend the additional step of cutting the straps of face masks’ ear loops before throwing them away. This may help prevent animals from getting tangled in the ear loops, and decrease the chances of them getting stuck on trees and plants.
So we will dispose of face masks properly… what can we do!?
It is so easy to be overwhelmed by the big issues of the pandemic, pollution and the climate crisis. However, every little bit counts and something is always better than nothing.
Choosing reusable masks is a good option (where possible and where conditions allow). Sunday Projects happen to have some very cute and sustainable linen face masks (made from recycled offcuts) available in our little shop.
Another good way to reduce plastic waste is to look at your consumption habits in general, particularly when it comes to your everyday items like food, toiletries and clothing. If you need to use plastic, make sure it is disposed of safely so it doesnt harm the ecosystem.
Useful Sources:
Ethically Kate is a kiwi blogger who shares useful sustainability tips, and the Sustainable Living Organization also offers useful tips on how to reduce waste.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/16/climate/ppe-coronavirus-waste.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7498239/
https://www.pnas.org/content/118/47/e2111530118
https://www.nbcnews.com/select/shopping/eco-friendly-face-mask-ncna1264810
