A recent report published by a conservation group out of Asia revealed that an estimated 1.5 billion face masks will pollute the ocean this year. My question is this: where are the cries from the environmental conservationists?
While there have been many movements to ban plastic water bottles, we haven’t heard a peep from activists to ban or limit disposable masks.
The study says “[s]ingle-use face masks are made from a variety of meltblown plastics and are difficult to recycle due to both composition and risk of contamination and infection.”
When I have to wear a mask, I wear reusable ones that I don’t plan on throwing away after a couple of uses. However, every time I walk into a store, I see disposable masks that can be passed out to people if they forget theirs.
In accordance with our up-tick in mask usage, we’ve been using hand sanitizer more than ever which typically comes in plastic bottles.
The report goes on to talk about the face masks’ effects on animals:
“The design of face masks, and particularly ear loops, makes them a possible entanglement risk for wildlife. In July, 2020, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) in the UK reported encountering a gull near Chelmsford with its feet tangled in the straps of a face mask.”
The study also adds that, because disposable face masks are made from multiple kinds of plastic, they’re hard to break down and recycle.
Where are the cries from PETA? Where are the cries from the “climate-concerned” left? Instead, people are encouraged to wear any kind of face mask when in public and not worry about the waste they create.
While the science is still murky on whether or not face masks actually prevent the virus (especially depending on what kind of mask you wear), we’re creating tons of unnecessary waste. But, since it fits the Left’s agenda, you probably won’t hear much about this huge problem.