As the UK government defines its lockdown exit strategy, the mandatory wearing of
masks in public is likely to be considered.
- The World Health Organisation (WHO) does not currently recommend the use of
masks by general populations as a means of preventing the spread of COVID-19,
although a growing number of countries have been adopting this precautionary
measure.
- The NHS states that there needs to be clear evidence that wearing masks will deliver
significant benefits to take the UK out of lockdown, if it is to jeopardise mask supply.
- There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that even basic face masks can be
effective in reducing the spread of the virus, by reducing the range and volume of
exhaled water droplets containing SARS-CoV-2.
- Most masks available for sale are made from layers of plastics and are designed to
be single-use. If every person in the UK used one single-use mask each day for a year,
that would create 66,000 tonnes of contaminated plastic waste and create ten times
more climate change impact than using reusable masks.
- In a hospital environment, single-use protective wear such as masks and gloves are
contaminated items, and there are systems in place for their safe disposal, which
involve segregation and incineration.
- No such segregated system exists for the general public, and a policy that makes
wearing face masks mandatory will result in thousands of tonnes of contaminated
waste deposited in the street and in the household waste.
- Evidence suggests that reusable masks perform most of the tasks of single-use masks
without the associated waste stream.
- An extensive public health campaign with clear instructions about how to wear,
remove, and wash reusable masks will be needed if this is to become part of the UK
government’s exit strategy.

In: DOI: 10.14324/111.444/000031.v1