Plastic Free Bedford alongside local Green Party councillors, are encouraging Bedford residents to consider the environment when choosing a face covering to wear, as new guidelines come into place from next Friday, making face coverings compulsory in shops, following on from previous mandatory face coverings on public transport.
The problem with single-use masks is that they are most often made from non-biodegradable and non-recyclable materials which are harmful to the environment and add to the existing problem of single-use plastics and littering.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the selling of protective masks (particularly single-use) has risen, with the many of these being discarded in parks and public spaces, polluting our streets and even ending up in our rivers.
According to an analysis by scientists at University College London, if every person in the UK used one single-use mask each day for a year, an extra 66,000 tonnes of contaminated plastic waste would be created.
Lucy Bywater, councillor for Castle Ward (pictured) said: “Wearing a face covering in public spaces such as shops is an important way for COVID-19 infected people without symptoms to help prevent spreading the virus. But this shouldn’t mean more throw-away plastic or litter. There are lots of good options for simple washable face coverings, and even ones that are home-made or even that raise money for good causes. We may have to get used to this new way of living for some time so adopting the reusable route now is definitely best and will be cheaper for people too.”
Cory Walker, Community Lead at Plastic Free Bedford said: “We are really encouraging people to choose a mask that doesn’t harm our planet. By choosing a reusable mask, you not only free up medical grade masks for the NHS and healthcare workers, you are doing your bit to help our planet, which has been affected greatly by the pandemic.”
Cory added: “A reusable face mask doesn’t have to be complicated either. You can simply make one from a scarf you own or even make your own from materials following instructions online. They are also available to purchase in a lot of online shops with a variety of patterns and colours. It is recommended that these are washed at a temperature of 60 degrees so they are ready to be reused over and over again.”
For more information on reusable masks and the problems around single-use plastics, head over to the Plastic Free Bedford Facebook page.
You can also find information on the Sustainable Bedford Facebook and Twitter pages.
