Why is throwing your protective mask on the ground dangerous and polluting?

Why is throwing your protective mask on the ground dangerous and polluting?

Last update: 19/06/2020

Since the start of the lockdown, more and more masks are being found on the ground or placed on public bins.

Single-use protective masks are not made of paper, but of plastic.  Leaving them on the ground or in Nature is dangerous for rubbish collectors, passers-by and the environment.

In addition to the health issues posed by this litter, there is also a real ecological problem, because the masks take no less than 450 years to biodegrade and they disrupt the wastewater treatment systems.