The pandemic has seen an enormous return to single-use items, and it is disappointing to see so much litter and the exponential growth in the use of single-use products, especially masks.
A report in the Environmental Science & Technology Journal stated that one hundred and twenty-nine billion face masks had been used each month globally since COVID-19 started to spread. Though single-use face masks are necessary for keeping people safe, they can create a range of challenges when attempting to keep waste levels to a minimum.
You could buy or make your reusable face mask, but single-use face masks appear to be the popular choice. They provide protection, and they're cheap and convenient. Minimising the impact on the environment is essential, but it is playing second fiddle to the health challenges.
Unfortunately, discarded masks are also proving to be a deadly hazard for wildlife, with birds and marine creatures trapped in the staggering number of masks now littering animal habitats.
So, we can all do our part when we have finished using a single-use face mask. First, make sure you cut the ear loops to prevent entangling any wildlife and then stick it in the bin. It couldn't be any easier than that.