New wave of plastic pollution proving to be global menace: NU-Q student
- 3 years ago
People have increased their use of disposable masks, plastic gloves, and bottles of sanitizers and protecting ourselves from the pandemic has caused a new wave of plastic pollution.
An increasing plastic menace is growing globally with the onset of Covid-19 giving rise to amassing of disposable masks, plastic gloves, and sanitizer bottles, according a study undertaken by a Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q).
Maha al-Kuwari, an undergraduate of communication major at NU-Q has highlighted the need for immediate action against increasing plastic menace globally including Qatar, especially with the onset of Covid-19.
“What started as a health crisis has evolved into an economic, social, and environmental threat. 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 Centre for Biotechnology Information, researchers estimate that 129bn face masks and 65bn gloves are used every month in order to protect citizens worldwide,” noted al- Kuwari.
She has quoted a study by Mordor Intelligence that proves that solid waste management is one of the serious challenges being faced in Qatar, due to high population, urbanization, industrial growth, and economic expansion.
Al-Kuwari explained that Qatar has a 1.8kg per day per capita waste generation which is one of the highest rates worldwide.
Qatar produces more than 2.5mn metric tonnes of municipal solid waste each year and the excessive use of single-use plastics poses a serious threat to public health and the environment especially with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, according to al-Maha.
Al-Kuwari highlighted the fact that action on climate change has reached a new low because of Covid-19 pandemic and acknowledged the contributions made by Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar (AYCMQA).
Climate change activist and co-founder of AYCMQA, -Neeshad Shafi has stated that people need to become more conscious towards their actions and contributions to the environment and the world is going through an uncalled for pandemic, people must start realizing that we cannot keep looking away from these stark facts, especially now more than ever.
Al-Kuwari noted that the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has stressed that a usedmask must be disposed off immediately in a closed trash bin. Any improper waste disposal can possibly interfere with the food supply chain.
This is primarily due to the fact that as plant growth is impaired it helps in reducing the amount of food produced. Waste collectors can get directly exposed to hazardous plastic wastes during collection, handling and transportation of infectious wastes from sources to storage facilities. This is a problematic issue for our environment and our health for years to come,” she laments.
However, Al-Kuwari sees a silver lining as many organisations like Doha Environmental Actions Project (Deap) that has taken the environment issues seriously with a team of Deap volunteers that meets up every Friday for a beach cleanup campaign. The untiring volunteers have undertaken more than 180 beach cleanup programmes and collected over 110,000kg of trash over the years.
Comments