While single-use face masks play a key role in protecting public health, incorrect disposal can lead to significant environmental challenges. With billions of masks used globally each year, understanding how, when and where to dispose of them responsibly plays a key role in sustainability efforts.
In this article, we’ll explore the environmental impact of face masks, best disposal practices and sustainable alternatives to help reduce waste.
Why proper mask disposal matters
According to Wang et al. (2023), it’s estimated that roughly 1% of used face masks are disposed of incorrectly. Although this figure might not sound like much, 1% is the equivalent of 10 million masks or roughly 30–40 tonnes of plastic waste being released into the environment each month.
Single-use face masks are a key contributor to plastic waste, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In some instances, face masks have even been dubbed as a greater concern than plastic bags. Ultimately, single-use face masks pose a significant risk to wildlife and marine ecosystems. Not only are they a choking hazard for unsuspecting wildlife, but they also release millions of harmful microplastics into the environment when they’re not disposed of correctly.
Single-use face masks can’t be recycled in the traditional sense, so they must be disposed of in general waste or via specialist recycling programs like TerraCycle’s Zero Waste Box™. Recycling single-use face masks is made even more challenging due to the different materials used in the construction of the mask, including plastic, fabric and metal nose strips.
Despite the challenges that come with recycling single-use face masks, it’s still essential to ensure you’re disposing of your mask correctly.
How to dispose of face masks responsibly
When it comes to disposing of single-use face masks, you typically have two main options available to you—standard disposal or using a dedicated mask collection bin.
With standard disposal, simply place the used face masks in the general waste bin as soon as it’s reasonably safe to do so. If you have access to a dedicated mask collection bin, dispose of your mask there instead.
Before disposing of your face mask, be sure to cut the ear loops to prevent causing harm to wildlife in the unlikely event that your mask ends up in the environment.
Can face masks be recycled?
Single-use face masks can’t be recycled in traditional kerbside recycling bins due to contamination concerns and the mix of materials used to construct face masks. That said, there are a number of specialised recycling programs and initiatives that have been created to keep masks out of landfills.
TerraCycle’s Safety Equipment and Protective Gear Zero Waste Box™ accepts all brands and sizes of single-use safety equipment and protective gear. In addition to disposable face masks, you can also recycle beard nets, disposable gloves, safety glasses and earplugs, which would have otherwise been sent to landfill.
Some hospitals and medical facilities also have their own face mask collection schemes to keep disposable masks separated from general waste.
H2: When to replace your mask
Disposable face masks aren’t designed to be worn repeatedly or over a long period of time. Instead, single-use face masks should be replaced every four hours or when they become damp, soiled or damaged, whichever comes first.
When it comes to removing your face mask, it’s essential to follow the correct steps to reduce the risk of contamination. This includes:
- Avoid touching the front of the face mask,
- Take off the mask by handling only the ear loops or straps, and
- Cut the ear loops or straps before disposing of the mask in the general waste bin.
Don’t forget to practice good hand hygiene before and after handling your face mask. You should either wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser that contains at least 60% alcohol or 70% isopropanol.
There’s no denying that the frequent disposal requirements of single-use face masks are a significant contributor to the sustainability challenges that face masks pose. However, face masks need to be clean, functional and the correct fit to provide effective protection.
When to replace your mask
Disposable face masks aren’t designed to be worn repeatedly or over a long period of time. Instead, single-use face masks should be replaced every four hours or when they become damp, soiled or damaged, whichever comes first.
When it comes to removing your face mask, it’s essential to follow the correct steps to reduce the risk of contamination. This includes:
- Avoid touching the front of the face mask,
- Take off the mask by handling only the ear loops or straps, and
- Cut the ear loops or straps before disposing of the mask in the general waste bin.
Don’t forget to practice good hand hygiene before and after handling your face mask. You should either wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser that contains at least 60% alcohol or 70% isopropanol.
There’s no denying that the frequent disposal requirements of single-use face masks are a significant contributor to the sustainability challenges that face masks pose. However, face masks need to be clean, functional and the correct fit to provide effective protection.
Where to find sustainable alternatives
At this stage, there are limited sustainable alternatives to single-use face masks that meet Australian and international standards. If you’re not able to find a biodegradable or compostable face mask alternative, the next best thing is to buy from reputable mask manufacturers that prioritise sustainability.
At Detmold Medical, we’re taking proactive steps to make our operations more sustainable. As part of our commitment to the environment, we’ve developed three key sustainability objectives, including:
1. Preserve natural resources by adopting sustainable packaging guidelines,
2. Keep waste out of nature by diverting waste from landfills across all of our production facilities, and
3. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by converting our facilities to renewable energy sources.
To support a local, sustainably-driven face mask manufacturer, explore our range of high-quality face masks and respirators or shop online today.
