In the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, studies have shown that mask-wearing is the single most effective way to blunt the spread of the virus. This single item enables us to safely engage in human interaction while staying safe. Since the introduction of the compulsory face masks wearing in Singapore, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of these masks. They have become our safeguard, yet they present another starking problem – pollution 

Are face masks recyclable? 

No! Despite masks being made up of plastic, it is made of a mixture of materials. It is made up of metal to peg your nose, cotton strings that loop around your years and polypropylene that makes up the filter (Manikanda, 2021). The mixture of materials causes difficulty in the recycling process and often makes its way in landfills or ecosystems. 

To make matters worse, most of the plastic particles are photo-oxidized when exposed to ultra-violet (UV) radiation, breaking them down into microplastics (Manikanda, 2021). These microplastics can make their way into deep aquatic environments. The cold and anoxic conditions of the aquatic environment can cause the slow degradation of these microplastics, which can span over centuries. 

Aside from this formation of microplastics, unproperly disposed face masks can also have an effect on wildlife such as ingestion and causing respiratory obstruction. Strings from masks can also cause entanglements of wildlife (Michele, 2021).

Possible solutions 

Opting for a recyclable alternative and biodegradable is one solution. Interestingly, small companies are manufacturing masks made from natural fibres such as cashew nuts waste, rice husk which is an excellent alternative for our single-use masks (Annie, 2021). These reusable cloth masks are a great option for our environment because they can be washed and reused. 

These simple lifestyle changes might seem insignificant as an individual, but it is a starting point for humans to become more aware each time they dispose of their face masks. So, let us do our part and reduce the amount of pollution together. 

 

References: 

T. Annie  (2021).  From bin to skin: Meet the Singaporean who makes face masks from food waste. CNA. https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/women/women-sustainability-didi-gan-n95-mask-hand-sanitiser-284616

K. Ashifa. (2020) ‘More masks than jellyfish’: coronavirus waste ends up in ocean. theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/08/more-masks-than-jellyfish-coronavirus-waste-ends-up-in-ocean

B. Manikanda. (2021) Are face masks a threat to oceans? International Water Association. https://iwa-network.org/are-face-masks-a-threat-to-oceans/

 C.Michele. (2021). Can we solve the face mask pollution problem?.LeafScore. https://www.leafscore.com/blog/can-we-solve-the-face-mask-pollution-problem/

J . Hart. (2020) A Safe and Stylish Solution to Plastic Pollution. SurfRider. https://www.surfrider.org/coastal-blog/entry/a-safe-and-stylish-solution-to-plastic-pollution