On the sidelines of the health crisis, the use of single-use masks and latex gloves has increased considerably. If they now litter the seabed with plastic waste, the environmental damage linked to Covid-19 should not stop there. Indeed, the production of plastic objects has been on the rise for several weeks.
With the reopening of certain beaches, the French find the sea or the ocean, of course, but, above all… the waste that goes hand in hand with the foam of the waves. During an outing in the bay of Golfe Juan (Alpes-Maritimes) on May 23, Operation clean sea association noted the presence of pollution linked to Covid-19 in the seabed.
In total, the divers recovered nearly 200 liters of miscellaneous waste, 62 bottles, 2 seals, a construction plot and a water fountain – all plastic. Unfortunately, this is “classic” waste. However, 4 latex gloves and 5 disposable protective masks were added. In Antibes, the same day, they respectively reached the number of 10 and 4.
It only takes a few hours for the mask to land in the marine environment
This phenomenon is not limited to the Mediterranean. As reported franceinfomasks were already found on the beaches of the Solo Islands, off Hong Kong, at the end of February by the NGO Oceans Asia. “This underscores the fact that it only takes six to eight weeks for a new object, introduced en masse into our society, to find its way into the environment.”laments Gary Stokes, the director of operations, interviewed by our colleagues.
On May 20, François Galgani, oceanographer at Ifremer, warned of the importance of getting rid of your mask with your household waste. “Depending on where it is thrown”a mask can be found “in just a few hours in the marine environment”he warned about LCI. If some elected officials take up the subject, like Éric Pauget, deputy (LR) of the 7and constituency of Alpes-Maritimes – which is demanding a fine of 300 euros against people throwing their masks in nature – the problem goes further.
Plastic packaging plant activity up 30%
Indeed, in addition to the use of masks, the production of single-use plastic items has increased considerably with the health crisis. According to franceinfo, which echoes Emmanuel Guichard, the general delegate of Elipso, plastic packaging factories have accelerated their activity by 30%. According to the manufacturer, the bottles made to contain the hydroalcoholic gel are the first objects for which there were tensions, requiring a doubling of production.
“With confinement, millions of French people no longer ate outside but at home, he still told our colleagues. There has therefore been a huge shift, from products packaged in large quantities for catering, to more small products sent to supermarkets. For the same amount of food, there was more packaging.”
New plastic needs should not compensate for the decline of recent years
Protective visors, Plexiglas plates, the use of over-packaging by certain supermarkets… The use of plastic is resurging with the Covid-19 pandemic, despite its known harm to the environment. However, it should not become widespread once the crisis is over.
Similarly, according to the general manager of Plastics Europe, Éric Quenet, asked by franceinfo, the additional needs should not compensate for the decline in previous years for the plastics industry. “Overall, demand in France will be lower than last year”, he estimated. Let’s just hope that the recycling trend is on the rise among the population.
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