Messy masks: how are your disposables contributing to the litter surge?
This probably comes as no surprise to you, but a lot of people are wearing masks these days. In Sydney, and many cities around the world, wearing one in public is now mandatory. It has certainly ruffled some feathers, but it has been done with good intentions: to mitigate spread of the virus. So what’s the problem? It’s wreaking havoc on the environment!
Since the first wave of lockdowns early last year, all reports on the environment front were positive. There wasn’t a car in sight, and consumption decreased across the board. There was less demand for industries like air travel. The skies were clearing and we cheered for the ecosystems that experienced a very-necessary respite. Carbon emissions were at a level that we hadn’t seen in almost a century. So again you ask, what’s the problem?
Face masks; they’re everywhere! I can’t seem to walk out of the house without seeing one on the street, in the bush, or in the carpark. Their fluorescent blue filter and spaghetti ear straps can be spotted miles away. Our virus-shielding garlic and crucifixes are poisoning the planet, and us.
Every month, humans are estimated to use 129 billion disposable face masks. Let that sink in for a moment. To put this in perspective, if everybody in Australia wore a new disposable mask every day for a year, this would equate to 37,000 tonnes of waste, ignoring packaging.
Whilst this is a major concern in terms of the energy required for producing such an astronomical volume of masks, what’s more concerning is that we aren’t disposing of masks correctly. Masks that are thrown on the ground end up washing into stormwater drains and local waterways, ultimately leading to the ocean. Organisations such as Peta and the RSPCA have reported animals being caught in masks, and experiencing fatal bowel obstructions due to ingestion. With the sheer volume of masks now in the ocean, this is likely to continue for some time.
The other major concern with disposable masks lies in the knowledge that they are made out of polypropylene plastic. This means they can’t be recycled. And if they make it to the ocean? They break down into tiny microplastics which fish, and ultimately us, eat. Rapid behaviour changes and collective action are needed to minimise the consequences of 2020’s pollution.
So what can you do?
Buy reusable masks from sustainably made, ethics-oriented local businesses
It’s a no-brainer! Not only do you reduce the mass consumption of disposable masks, but you also minimise the volume going to landfill and the ocean. Large health organisations, like the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, are also condoning the use of reusable masks for the general public.
Buying a few masks is also an opportunity to support small, local businesses who are making tangible change in the community. With the large influx in demand, fashion labels and clothing companies are making groovy face masks at affordable prices. Check out businesses like The Social Outfit and Nobody Denim who are putting ethics first and using sustainable and fair practices, or grab one of our masks with a message.
Learn how to recycle your disposables.
If you’re a health worker or in circumstances with a higher risk for infection, using disposable masks may be more appropriate. Rather than throw them on the ground or put them in your recycling, ensure you dispose of them in a general waste bin. Don’t forget to cut the ear elastics to prevent birds getting trapped in them!
Keep an eye out for sustainable alternatives.
Inventors and investors are putting their big brains to use and redesigning face masks. Hemp and sugarcane are new material alternatives. Be wary though: whilst they are sustainable materials, they must be disposed of thoughtfully. In ordinary landfill, they produce a remarkable amount of methane, a much more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.
Another alternative can be seen by companies like PRECIMASK who are creating reusable, high-quality masks with a filter you can wash and re-use. You might have a freaky-looking grin while you wear one, but all in the name of the environment, right?
Pick up some rubbish.
It probably goes without saying, but one of the most direct ways you can contribute to the cause is to go and pick up some rubbish. Whilst the risk of catching the virus from a washed up mask is extremely low, wear gloves (reusable ones, of course!) and dispose of all litter responsibly.