Face masks have been one of the several life saving measures in this time of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Face masks protect us from the invisible virus spreading around.
A global study estimates that 3 million face masks are used every minute. Most of them are disposable face masks made from plastic microfibers, according to University of Denmark researchers. If not recycled properly it is a potential threat to our environment.
I started my personal documentation of discarded face masks after noticing heaps of used face masks littering around Bangkok with the use of my mobile phone. I have taken hundreds of frames of used face masks trying various angles and at different times of the day. Twelve collages of discarded face masks all shot in 2021 in Bangkok and other parts of Thailand represent the 12 months of year 2021.
The pandemic is on its third year with new variants being identified. The new normal is the consistent use of face masks in public places.
Discarded face masks have become of grave concern not only here but globally. The ubiquitous used face mask is either seen hanging on trees, dropped on the sidewalk, hardened with mud, floating on canals, left on railway tracks, soiled in construction sites, flattened in the middle of the road, dumped in public parks and so on.
A survey conducted by Pollution Control Department in 2,690 towns from June 1 to December 31, 2020, found that 17.89 tons of face mask waste were generated in the said period. Numbers are expected to rise as covid cases climb in the country.
An estimated 1.8 billion face masks are being discarded in Thailand every day, many improperly, raising fears among health workers of further spread of Covid-19. The government is doing public awareness campaign about proper disposal and garbage separation.
As covid continues, we also need to learn how to unmask properly.
©All Rights Reserved, 2023. Text and Photos by Claro Cortes IV