The Pandemic Problem: Unprecedented Waste in these Unprecedented Times…

In a previous post recommending environmental content to stream while in quarantine, I outlined some of the ways in which the global pandemic and ensuing lockdowns, economic shutdowns, and reduced travel have ultimately benefited the environment (fewer emissions, reduced fossil fuel consumption, etc.) However, unfortunately there are two sides to every coin, and the flip side of these temporary benefits is a whole lot of single-use waste. 

The worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 spurred panic, uncertainty, heartbreak, and one of the most egregious regressions in sustainability in the form of rollbacks of numerous plastic bans in favor of single-use disposable items, rationalized as an "abundance of caution." As science writer Lauren Tenenbaum explains, “Concern about safety and cross-contamination has caused statewide, municipal, and corporate repeals of single-use plastic bans and this has translated into a heightened demand for bottled water, PPE, plastic bags and packaging.” 

What’s more is that with many recycling and waste management services operating at limited capacity as a result of the pandemic, it’s possible that this influx of extra plastic will not ultimately get recycled. The potential for plastic ban rollbacks to persist coupled with the inability to properly manage our (now overflowing) waste streams may result in an unprecedented increase in the level of plastic pollution in our oceans, which activists have fought so tirelessly to reduce (see my Plastics Purge series). In fact, as reported by the LA Times, a new form of plastic pollution is beginning to pervade our oceans: disposable masks.

There has also been a major uptick in the amount of single-use plastic waste being generated from take-out dining—an option which has soared in popularity in the midst of a pandemic where people have been either prohibited from or uninterested in in-person dining. As cited in the above LA Times article, a survey found that during an eight-week lockdown, Singapore’s 5.7 million residents generated an additional 1,470 tons of plastic waste from takeout packaging and food delivery alone!

Additionally, environmentally friendly measures like the use of reusable cups at coffee shops and reusable bags in grocery stores have been disallowed in the fear that these items may serve as a vector for the Coronavirus. This, in spite of the fact that medical experts believe that reusable materials pose no additional risk, as long as they are routinely sanitized. 

Furthermore, as reported on Earth.org, the reality of the virus encouraging more people to socialize and recreate outdoors has resulted in heretofore unseen quantities of litter entering our natural spaces including parks, beaches, and hiking trails. 

With a recent relocation to the Hawaiin island of Kaua'i, I began listening to the podcast Are We Doomed? And Other Burning Environmental Questions, in which host Claire Caulfield investigates and answers questions about the environment in Hawaii. She discusses this very issue in a June 29th episode titled, Is the Pandemic Creating More Litter? (Spoiler alert: the answer is yes). She discusses how part of the increase in plastics and other waste can be attributed to disposable gloves, masks, and other medical equipment essential to protecting frontline healthcare workers. 

And while the abundance of caution may have been warranted at the start of the pandemic, as science continues to learn more about COVID-19, certain wasteful precautionary measures are no longer necessary. For example, with the best defenses against the virus consisting of washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water, wearing a mask, and practicing social distancing, for non-frontline workers disposable gloves and single-use masks are simply not necessary: reusable masks and handwashing are an effective defense. 

While I realize it may be seen by some to be a privilege to care about the well-being of our environment in the midst of a pandemic, recession, and social upheaval, I believe it is necessary to do so. We cannot sacrifice the future for the sake of convenience and comfort in our present. In some instances, the increased waste generated as a direct or indirect result of the pandemic is not easily avoided. However, in other instances, there are things that you can do to adopt greener practices, even in the midst of a global pandemic. 

Portland radio station Live 95.5 lists these five tips for reducing waste during the pandemic:

1. Break down your paper and cardboard delivery boxes and put them out for proper recycling. (Even if some recycling operations have been disrupted, we should still attempt to divert such items from landfills).

2. Instead of throwing disposable bags away, find other ways to re-use them, such as lining wastebaskets and using them for your next car trip to collect trash. 

3. If you’re ordering takeout, reduce waste by opting out of receiving plastic silverware and napkins. 

4. Buy a large resealable bottle of your favorite beverages instead of buying multiple smaller cans. 

5. Divert food waste from landfills by creating a composting spot in your yard. (For tips on how to start a household compost, check out my previous post on household composting).

Additional suggestions for waste reduction come from a June article in the Bangor Daily News:

6. Wear a reusable cloth mask. 

7. Bag your own groceries. (In which case many stores will allow you to use your reusable grocery bags)

8. Buy locally! Shopping at your local farmers market can reduce the amount of plastic generated from your groceries. Likewise, making local purchases can reduce the amount of waste from packaging and transportation that results from online shopping (for more reasons to buy locally, check out my post on shopping small).

9. When getting creative with socially distant celebrations or parades, celebrate with bubbles as opposed to balloons. Escaped or discarded balloons are another form of litter and can pose a choking hazard to birds and other wildlife. 

10. Use this time to conduct a trash audit to increase awareness of your personal / household waste management practices and to create goals to work toward reducing, reusing, and recycling. If you are perhaps trapped at home with your kids, this could be a fun and teachable project for the whole family!

Clean River Recycling Solutions also suggests the following:

11. Reduce food waste by not overbuying more produce than you can use, freezing what you can to extend shelf life, and opting for non-perishable items. 

12. Utilize eco-friendly / reusable cleaning supplies at home such as reusable rags vs. paper towels, bottles of cleaner rather than wipes, and natural cleaning solutions such as vinegar. (Again, for more details and tips, see my previous post on nontoxic housecleaning).

13. Reuse or re-purpose worn out household items and waste into arts and crafts projects and DIYs opposed to throwing them away. Also a great activity to entertain the kiddos!

And some tips of my own:

14. Pack it in, pack it out. Please recreate responsibly and make sure that you are packing out and properly disposing of any trash you generate while enjoying the great outdoors. 

15. Take part in socially distant beach clean ups or pick up trash in an area near you!

16. Revisit my previous posts for additional ideas for projects and practices to reduce waste in your everyday life. 

So, as you can see, there are lots of ways to continue on our paths toward greener living, even in the midst of a global pandemic. Times are tough right now—socially,  financially, and emotionally. We are all doing our best, and I offer my understanding and compassion in these trying times, but the fact of the matter is that unless our best includes incorporating sustainable practices and reducing waste with an outlook toward the longevity and well-being of our planet, our best simply isn’t good enough. If you are able, please strongly consider disrupting our wasteful and destructive habits fueled by extractive capitalism and refusing to accept the pandemic as a means by which to trash our environment. 

Have you implemented any sustainable practices in your life as a result of or in response to the pandemic? Are there other tips you'd recommend in combating our new wasteful reality? As always, please share your thoughts in the comments section below.