Is there a way to recycle used face masks?

Every day, billions of people wear face masks to protect themselves from the coronavirus. However, as the world fights off a health crisis, it may also be leaving a negative impact on the environment.

According to a study published on the Science of the Total Environment journal this week, the use of personal protective equipment dramatically increased during the pandemic, with an estimate of 6.8 billion disposable face masks being used globally each day.

With this large amount of waste being produced every day, is there a way to recycle all these used face masks?

Researchers from RMIT University-Australia said yes, and in fact, these could be recycled and used in the most shocking way possible: building roads.

Mohammad Saberian, Jie Li, Shannon Kilmartin-Lynch, and Mahdi Boroujeni discovered that used face masks could be recycled and used to build roads.

By shredding the face masks and mixing it with processed building rubble, a new road-making material that meets civil engineering safety standards, and at the same time addresses environmental challenges, is made.

The study said mixing 1% shredded face masks to 99% processed building rubble had been identified as the “optimal mixture” and delivered “strength while maintaining good cohesion between the two materials.”

It also performed well when tested for stress, acid and water resistance, strength, deformation, and dynamic properties.

According to Li, who leads the RMIT School of Engineering research team, the team was inspired to study the possibility of mixing face masks onto construction materials after seeing so many discarded masks littering on the streets.

“We know that even if these masks are disposed of properly, they will go to landfill or they’ll be incinerated,” he said. “The COVID-19 pandemic has not only created a global health and economic crisis but has also had dramatic effects on the environment.”

He added: “If we can bring circular economy thinking to this massive waste problem, we can develop the smart and sustainable solutions we need.”

Despite the new discovery, other experts said this usage of face masks in building roads could lead to microplastic pollution, another environmental problem. – Kaela Malig/RC, GMA News