Covid-19 causing a new wave of plastic pollution

Doha Environmental Actions Project (DEAP)

Approximately two meters from the trash can laid a disposable face mask covered in shoe prints. I was sort of in a predicament. The pre-pandemic me would have picked up any type of trash and put it in the bin without hesitating. But now I encounter masks dispersed across the city, and there’s nothing I can do about it as there’s a chance of contaminating myself by this selfless act. I stared at the mask and walked away. I felt powerless. The world as we know it has not been the same after COVID-19 hit. What started as a health crisis promptly evolved into an economic, social, and environmental threat. For starters, people have increased their use of disposable masks, plastic gloves, and bottles of sanitizers. Protecting ourselves from the pandemic has caused a new wave of plastic pollution. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, researchers estimate that 129 billion face masks and 65 billion gloves are used every month in order to protect citizens worldwide. A study by Morder Intelligence claims municipal solid waste management is one of the most serious challenges faced in Qatar, due to high population growth rate, urbanization, industrial growth, and economic expansion. Qatar has one of the highest per capita waste generation rates worldwide, which is as high as 1.8 kilograms per day. Given that, Qatar produces more than 2.5 million metric tons of municipal solid waste each year. It is estimated that this number has only increased due to the amount of waste that is being produced by the pandemic.