Go Greener – Snip the straps!

In this week’s Go Greener, two Year 11 students from the Maailma Environment Club share some tips on environmentally-friendly alternatives to disposable face masks.

In the heat of lockdown last year, every minute of the day 3 million disposable face masks were thrown away across the world. This sums up to 129 billion face masks disposed of globally, every month into landfill. Although face masks are not as prevalent in our society today, due to the relaxation of restrictions, it is still highly recommended at certain events such theatre performances and other hot spots. The problem with a disposable face mask is that it is not recyclable, and when in landfill, the plastic inside takes 450 years to break down. This is the same length of time for one plastic bottle to break down.

So how can we help? Although wearing masks has become unavoidable in many places, there are measures that we can all take to minimise the risk and danger that they pose to our environment. Phelp Bondaroff from the University of Cambridge emphasises the importance of simply cutting the straps from these disposable masks when throwing them away. There have been instances where animals, such as birds and sea-life get entangled in the straps and it also reduces the likelihood of the masks becoming stuck on trees and plants. Of course, if you cannot do this, finding a lined garbage bin with a closed lid is also helpful.

What are some other alternatives? The most environmentally-friendly alternative is a reusable cloth mask, preferably with a filter that can be removed. This prevents more masks being disposed in landfill, decreases the risk of endangering wildlife and reduces littering. This also takes into consideration hygiene as you can easily wash the masks, preventing a build-up of bacteria which was a previous safety hazard of cloth masks. So, next time you are thinking about wearing a mask, we encourage you to consider how you will dispose of it and whether you are comfortable making the switch to a reusable cloth mask.

Isabella Morgan and Sally Webster, Year 11
Maailma Environment Committee