It is dubbed as the “plastic water bottle” of the pandemic. Those face masks, a “must” these days, are set to become the looming environment crisis that we would face.
Though light as a feather (at least four grams each), millions of face masks are discarded each day, some even thrown on the road, flushed in toilets, or discarded by the river—one can imagine the mountain of trash filling up garbage trucks and landfills.
A study revealed that around 100 billion face masks (and 65 billion plastic gloves) are discarded per month. And with the Philippine government mandating strict mask use in public spaces with the rise of new cases from new variants, it is inevitable that we contribute to the rise of that 100 billion number.
How did we arrive at this problem?
The pandemic has drastically changed our lives, and that includes our habits and routines. As vaccinating everyone remains elusive, the best way to protect ourselves from COVID-19 is by wearing face masks.
Now, all medical experts, even the World Health Organization (WHO), has specifically instructed that “face masks should be disposed as soon as it is damp.”
The WHO even presented a guideline on how to remove a mask, saying, “First, clean your hands; remove face mask from behind with the ear or head strap; do not touch the front of the mask; pull the mask away from your face; discard immediately in a closed bin; wash hands properly with soap and water.”
With this, it is clear that face masks, specifically the single-use ones, “cannot be recycled,” adding that those who feel unwell or suspect themselves to be exposed with the virus to “store face masks for 72 hours before disposing in the bin.”
Various environment organizations have raised the red flag on this issue, highlighting the fact that there is a significant spike in the number of personal protective equipment (PPE) that are littered everywhere, which sometimes ends up in our bodies of water.
One government agency, the Climate Change Commission (CCC), has already warned the public on the surge of plastic pollution due to the global production and consumption of single-use masks, latex gloves, PPE, alcohol and hand sanitizer bottles, and disposable cleaning agents. It added that “plastic waste may end up in our oceans, break into microplastics, and be mistaken for food by marine animals, such as fish, which humans also consume.”
“(We) express our concern on the increasing volume of single-use plastic wastes from take-out and online shopping deliveries. As COVID-19 restricted public mobility, online shopping and food delivery services often using single-use plastics… and these have further encumbered our waste management system,” said a statement from the agency.
“We are calling on local governments and citizens to help in addressing plastic pollution generated during this global health crisis.”
This was also the alarm raised by global environment organization The Worldwide Wildlife Fund (WWF). In a study, it said that “if even only one percent of the masks were disposed of incorrectly, this would result in 10 million masks per month dispersed in the environment.”
What can we do to help the environment?
So, how should we dispose our face masks properly without harming the environment? Here is a list we compiled from recommendations of health and policy experts.
First, do not dispose face masks in public spaces. Be responsible. Throw them in bins or waste baskets.
Just recently, a message circulating online asked for this small request—“Kindly cut used disposable masks into two pieces before putting them in the bin. There is a huge market where discarded masks are sold to the poor. Please inform family and friends. It will take barely five seconds to cut them into half. Your action can save hundreds from getting infected.” Whether this is true or not, it’s prudent to be extra safe and avert any health crises.
Eco groups, however, say that even though we dispose our face masks properly in bins, these could still end up in our seas and landfills. They recommend that we “should just avoid single-use face masks, if possible.”
A medical expert has this advice: “Unless you are in the medical field, it is practical to use a reusable face mask, which can be worn and washed again and again. It also saves you from the cost of purchasing face masks.” So if wearing face masks is now part of our lives, isn’t this a wise (and budget-friendly) advice?
In terms of government policy, the CCC is calling on the implementation of Administrative Order No. 22-2013, issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), on the proper management and disposal of used masks, PPEs, and other considered hazardous (infectious) waste from hospitals, barangay health centers, and clinics.
“We stress the importance of enacting the Ecological Solid Waste Management (ESWM) Act of 2000, which provides guidance on proper segregation at source, transportation, storage, transfer, processing, treatment, and disposal of solid waste and other waste management activities that do not harm the environment,” the agency said.
Like face masks, we can also cut our own plastic wastes by refusing disposable plastic cutlery (especially when having food delivered) and by supporting businesses that offer more sustainable delivery packaging, such as cardboard or compostable bags.
“The biggest challenge in adopting a more sustainable lifestyle is breaking old habits and making sacrifices for the climate and environment,” says the CCC. “But by slowly incorporating sustainable practices into our everyday activities, we would be able to protect both the health of the people, natural systems, and the planet.”