Environmental impact of discarded face masks alarms environmentalists in Hong Kong

Face masks on Hong Kong’s beaches – the most important thing to start with:

Discarded face masks are piling up on Hong Kong's beaches and nature trails. Environmental groups warn that the waste poses a major threat to marine life and wildlife habitats.

Disposable masks dumped in the sea

Most of Hong Kong's 7.4 million people have been donning disposable face masks every day for weeks to ward off the coronavirus.
However, a large number of masks are not disposed of properly and are instead dumped on land or in the sea. They wash up on beaches along with plastic bags and other ocean trash.

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Environmental groups are alarmed

Environmental groups already grappling with marine debris from mainland China and elsewhere say the discarded coronavirus masks are exacerbating the problem. They have also expressed concerns about the spread of germs.

"We've just had masks on a massive scale for the last six to eight weeks... we're now seeing the impact on the environment," said Gary Stokes, founder of environmental group Oceans Asia.

Stokes gave the example of Hong Kong's isolated and uninhabited Soko Islands, south of the international airport. He said he initially found 70 discarded masks along a 100-meter stretch of beach. When he returned a week later, there were more than 30 new ones, which he considered "pretty alarming."

Garbage disposal problem

Densely populated Hong Kong has been struggling with dealing with plastic waste for years.
A culture of fast food and takeout has fueled a rising tide of single-use plastic. Very little trash is recycled, and about 70 percent of the city's 6 million tons of waste per year ends up in landfills.

“Nobody wants to go into the forest and find masks scattered everywhere or used masks on the beaches. It’s unhygienic and dangerous,” said Laurence McCook, head of oceans conservation at the World Wildlife Fund in Hong Kong.

Organization of beach clean-ups

Conservation groups have now organized beach clean-ups to control the accumulation of rubbish.
The masks are made of polypropylene, a type of plastic, and will not break down quickly, said Tracey Read, founder of the Hong Kong group Plastic Free Seas.

“People think they’re protecting themselves, but it’s not just about protecting yourself. You have to protect everyone. If you don’t throw the mask away properly, it’s very selfish.”

Source: New Straits Times
Article image: Shutterstock / Dech St / Santiparp Wattanaporn
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1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )