Following the ban of face masks by Health Minister, Joe Phaahla, Westville based non-profit organisation, Chic Mamas Do Care Durban has urged the public to get rid of their masks in a creative way to avoid polluting the environment.
The volunteer-based social enterprise selling good quality pre-loved clothing to support Early Childhood Development welcomed the decision by Minister Phaahla and shared ways in which residents can play a part in protecting the environment including wildlife.
Chic Mamas Do Care Durban Coordinator, Jenny Du Bois said that populations all over the world have been wearing masks since the global pandemic began and they are now starting to pose as a real environmental problem.
“We are mindful of how many masks will be discarded in the coming weeks and it is in line with our commitment towards the three R’s – reduce, reuse and recycle – to look into the most environmentally friendly ways to dispose of them. Let’s all do our bit to not add to the problem. Every car has a few dangling from the mirror or the indicator, every home has a basket by the front door, full to the brim and every school or work bag, has a few spare and a few more, to match every outfit and occasion. Disposable or single-use masks must not be placed in general recycling bins. They must be placed in the regular rubbish bin. It’s important to snip the elastic off before you do this, as the straps can entangle wildlife,” said Du Bois.
Du Bois also said that because disposable masks are often made of plastics like polypropylene, polyethylene and vinyl, they take around 450 years to break down if they’re left in the environment.
“Even then, they’re breaking into micro-plastics. Discarded masks often end up in waterways too, where they release pollutants and pose a major risk to animals and marine life. We’ve seen lots of eco-minded organisations overseas come up with brilliant initiatives for recycling these disposable face masks, believe it or not, they can even be made into materials for making roads and efficient batteries,” added Du Bois.
On clothing masks, Du Bois added that perhaps then, one can hold on to any they have for now and see if any great local initiatives are reported in the news which they can support.
“Donating to a charity or cause, is useful in so far has they might be bought by someone with their own upclycling projects in mind. But better still, why not pass them on to a haberdashery store or tailor or seamstress. They can then be used in training, as patches or resold as fabric offcuts or scraps for all manner of creative projects. Blending art and fashion is now a thing! Dubbed ‘trashion’ no shortage of creative souls are incorporating old masks into their art to reduce waste and mark the pandemic. So keep your eyes peeled and your ears glued for local artists getting on board,” concluded Du Bois.
