Used face masks pose threat to environment, must be disposed of properly, say groups

The improper disposal of used surgical face masks has become a threat to the environment.

In Maki Pulido’s report on “24 Oras” Thursday, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said many citizens had been recklessly throwing away their used masks in different areas.

This could pose a problem and cause floods especially amid the rainy season, it said.

“’Yung balat nga lang ng candy cause na ng pagbaha. What more this surgical mask?” said MMDA Assistant Secretary Celine Pialago.

According to the Ecowaste Coalition, the surgical masks polluting the bodies of water can also threaten marine life.

“Actually pwede ito makain ng mga isda. Kung ito naman ay tatagal sa tubig, ito ay pwede maging microplastic at eventually kakainin din ng ating mga marine species na kapag nakita natin syempre cycle so kinakain din natin itong isda,” said Ecowaste Coalition’s Aileen Lucero.

Asia Development Bank also stated that before the pandemic hit Metro Manila, only 47 tons of medical waste from hospitals were collected. However, now, over 280 tons of medical waste are collected on a daily basis.

From just 23 garbage trucks, Metro Manila now needs 140 garbage trucks to collect that amount of waste every day.

According to nonprofit organization Medical Care Without Harm, the amount of medical waste increased because hospitals no longer segregated trash amid the pandemic and just treated their garbage as infectious waste.

“Kahit balot ’yan ng pagkain or papel na galing sa opisina, as long as andoon ka sa red zone, treated na siya as infectious waste,” said Medical Care Without Harm’s Paeng Lopez.

To properly dispose of surgical masks and other PPEs, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environment Management Bureau said people should put used masks, gloves, and tissue in a separate waste bag.

If possible, dispose of these in a yellow bag and label them as “hazardous health care waste” or “infectious waste” to protect the garbage collectors who pick them up. – Kaela Malig/RC, GMA News