Pandemic Pollution
Reducing Single Use Plastics During the Pandemic
Image Source: https://www.economist.com/international/2020/06/22/covid-19-has-led-to-a-pandemic-of-plastic-pollution
Researchers have observed a huge increase in plastic pollution during the COVID-19 pandemic, as demand for medical personal protective equipment (PPE), like masks and gloves continue. Businesses have also had to put their eco-friendly, bring your own bag or mug options to a pause to help avoid virus transmission between employees and customers. Bottle recycling programs have also had to be put to a halt at times during the pandemic, leading to more improperly recycled cans and bottles.
With people working or studying from home and an increase in unemployment, more people are staying indoors and in, so pollution rates have spiked. People being homebound has resulted in an increase in online shopping, take out food, or easy to make processed foods. We were already facing a plastic crisis pre-COVID, statistics by OCEANA showing that Canadians produce an estimated 3.3 billion tons of plastic per year, 2.8 billion or 86% of this waste goes straight to landfills. These rates were before the pandemic, which means these numbers have increased significantly with the halt in progress of us working towards a plastic-free world.
Personal protective equipment is especially important in current times to help protect us and reduce virus transmission rates. As we enter the second wave, we must ask ourselves: “can we find a more sustainable ways to live during COVID, while still staying safe?”. Scientists have observed a huge spike in medical supplies being found in rivers, oceans and especially along coast lines, and these items will last for thousands of years. In the next section I will share a few ways I found to help reduce plastic waste during COVID.
1. Reusable masks: Reusable fabric masks are a great, eco-friendly alternative to single-use masks. If not working in a medical setting or another role in which single use must be used, fabric masks still provide protection and are much more sustainable. Fabric masks are easy to purchase as they are available in many ways now and can easily be made at home with recycled fabric in a DIY project (see stencil below). Reusable masks come in so many varieties so you can find the right fit/design for you, and they are easy to hand wash with hot water and soap.
2. Avoid the takeout: Plenty of restaurants have had to alternate to a pickup food option, and with this there is an increase of single use plastic food packaging and utensils. Since many of us are stuck at home, it is a great opportunity to try out some new recipes or work on incorporating a healthier diet. When prepping food at home, try to ditch the plastic wrap or sandwich bags and use reusable containers or invest in some beeswax wrap- an awesome alternative! If you do order out, request no utensils to avoid unneeded plastic waste!
3. Buy locally: The pandemic has resulted in many people ordering online rather than going out to purchase items. This has led to tons of pollution- plastic envelopes, boxes, styrofoam, tape, and other packing materials. Many smaller businesses are struggling to stay afloat during the pandemic and are offering contactless pickup or free local delivery!
4. Gloves: If you need gloves because hand sanitizer is not enough, opt in for biodegradable options or find a set of washable, fabric-based gloves!
5. When using single-use PPE’s, make sure to discard of them properly: Some individuals do not have the option of wearing reusable masks and require gloves- in this case make sure that you dispose of these items properly, so they do not end up in the environment. Gloves and masks can be seen discarded along sidewalks and streets- these items can make their way into storm drains and then into marine ecosystems where they take thousands of years to break down and can harm wildlife.
6. Recycle, reuse and compost if possible! Anywhere you can ditch single use products or switch to biodegradable alternatives- do it! We do not always think of our interconnection with the world, but the choices we make can have a huge impact and have lasting effects. With COVID, the use of single use plastic bags are resurging- if you have to get them you can reuse them as garbage bin liners, or opt in for paper bags if you can (they make great compost bags)!
DIY Mask Instructions
Image source: https://sarahmaker.com/how-to-sew-a-surgical-face-mask-for-hospitals-free-pattern/