The Cost of PPE on the Environment

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The Cost of PPE on the Environment

Disposable face masks contain plastic materials that are not recyclable

In compliance with the UAE’s regulations, we have all been wearing face masks outside of our homes, thanks to their efficacy at preventing the spread of Covid-19. An unwanted consequence of mass mask usage, however, that we are all witnessing, is the accumulation of waste.

While face masks have become the new normal for many as they protect us from the virus, personal protective equipment (PPE) are resulting in high environmental costs. Photographs of surgical masks littering our oceans and piling up on beaches around the world are surfacing. But we really don’t need to go far to find spot shocking sights. You can find used face masks on the streets, on our beautiful shores, and pretty much in any public space.

Single-use masks are made from polypropylene (PP) which is a fossilfuel derived polymer that effectively blocks microbes and droplets, hence the material’s usage in surgical masks and protective clothing for healthcare workers.

Given the disposable face masks’ short life spans and light material it is almost inevitable that masks end up in the natural environment and have the same effect as plastic products that take hundreds of years to break down. These can be ingested by marine life mistaking them for food. On top of this, single-use masks, just as other plastic goods, shed harmful microplastics into waterways and are ingested by marine life and by us as we consume seafood.

It is uncommon for PPEs to be recycled in order to avoid human interaction and safeguard the health and safety of sanitation workers. Also, the fact that virgin plastic is cheap and readily available require specific techniques and machinery to be recycled means that it costs more to collect, separate, and recycle PPE than the value of the recycled material. The economics don’t work and there is no incentive for PPE waste management. The solution? Well, there isn’t a definitive one as of yet. Home-made face coverings provide some degree of protection from respiratory droplets airborne in a person’s surroundings, but not as much as surgical masks, given their inability to block small particles. Nevertheless, eco-friendly PPEs for the general public seem to be under development. In Spain, the Senior Council for Scientific Research is working on a project to develop biodegradable antiviral the Advanced Institute of Science and Technology created reusable filters that maintain a similar efficacy to disposable surgical masks that can be washed.

Producing and supplying PPEs with lower environmental impacts to the masses is crucial to our efforts in our fight against single-use plastic and global pollution. Priorities have changed during the pandemic, but principles cannot be wavered. Responsible consumption and disposal of waste material is as crucial as ever to protect the planet.