We all know that the worldwide pandemic has affected us all. Schools are online, large gatherings are prohibited, and toilet paper seems nowhere to be found. Although yes, because of this, you would think that with people staying confined to their own homes would in fact be good for the environment, and in some ways this is true, but when it comes to plastic waste, the problem is actually getting worse.
While much of air pollution has cleared up, plastic waste has actually been on the rise, the real big factor of plastic waste recently being medical supplies and PPE. According to an article by Scientific American, "COVID-19 triggered an estimated global use of 129 billion face masks and 65 billion gloves every month"(Ford). For reference, this could cover the entire country of Switzerland!
Though there are other causes for the increase in plastic consumption. With the fall of the oil market, plastics are cheaper. People who are struggling financially due to Covid are finding themselves opting for more cheaper, plastic products than the alternatives.
Now with this increase of plastic consumption, where is it going after it's done being used? With so much, "the World Wildlife Fund estimates that if just 1 percent of the 1 billion masks used in Italy every month are discarded improperly, it could lead to an accumulation of 10 million plastic masks in the environment, causing unprecedented pollution" (Kaplan and Stuchtey). This means that even with the vast majority of people discarding of them correctly, that 1 percent would still have an astounding effect on the environment. You'd find masks on the side of the road, hanging from trees, and even far out in the ocean.
Just to recap, the increase in PPE and overall plastic consumption is leading to a great rise in harmful plastic waste.
Ford, Dave. "COVID-19 Has Worsened the Ocean Plastic Pollution Problem."
Scientific American, 17 Aug. 2020, www.scientificamerican.com/article/
covid-19-has-worsened-the-ocean-plastic-pollution-problem/. Accessed 5 Mar.
2021.
Kaplan, Rob, and Martin Stuchtey. "Collateral Damage: COVID-19's Impact on Ocean
Plastic Pollution." Green Biz, 30 Oct. 2020, www.greenbiz.com/article/
collateral-damage-covid-19s-impact-ocean-plastic-pollution. Accessed 5 Mar.
2021.
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