COVID-19 changed life as we knew it. But did you know that the pandemic even changed the way we can recycle?
Many people don’t know this, but there are actually COVID-specific recycling rules put in place because of the pandemic, such as not recycling if anyone in your household has COVID-19. With so many people using disposable PPE like face masks and gloves, we’re creating more trash and recycling than ever — and since PPE is considered medical waste, we can’t even recycle all of our disposable items.
So how can we do our part to reduce plastic waste while at home? Keep reading to learn how you can minimize your environmental impact during the pandemic.
1. Bring Your Own Bags
While bringing your own bags to the store has been gaining popularity for a while now, many places aren’t allowing it to minimize germ spread. Instead of opting for disposable plastic bags when you get groceries, bring bags and keep them in the car. When you check out, you can put your items back in your basket and bag them once you get to your car. While it’s a little bit of extra work, it’s a small task that the earth will thank you for.
2. Reduce Single-Use PPE
Single-use PPE has become a staple of everyday life during the pandemic. Forgetting a mask nowadays is like forgetting to wear pants — you can’t! Since we use masks so consistently, we should be opting for CDC-approved reusable masks, so we can save the disposable masks for people who really need it (like frontline medical workers). Just be sure to get a CDC-approved mask with the proper protection so you know you’re staying safe while helping the environment.
3. Get a Reusable Bottle
Reusable water bottles are on the rise. Brands like Hydroflask and Swell have reusable options that can be customized to your individual style — and even keep your water cold longer! While reusable water bottles are a bit of an investment, clocking in at around $20 to $50, they can save you up to 167 plastic bottles each year (which would cost you $266!).
The pandemic (hopefully) isn’t something we’re stuck with our whole lives, but the environment is. While the pandemic will continue to change the way we live in the near future, we can make small changes that will make a big impact on the future of our environment. To learn more about how to recycle during the plastic pandemic, check out the infographic below.
