Face Masks: From the Coronavirus Crisis and Environmental Challenges to Recycling Opportunities

The COVID-19 pandemic, from 2019 to late 2021, caused a substantial rise in contaminated medical waste, largely due to increased use of personal protective equipment (PPE), particularly face masks. Despite a recent decline in general use due to the disease becoming endemic and worsening air pollution, waste generation remains high, especially in hospitals. This contaminated waste poses significant risks to human societies and the environment. Pathogenic viruses can survive on these materials, spreading disease through human contact. Additionally, face masks, predominantly made from non-biodegradable polymers, persist in the environment, gradually breaking down into microplastics, nanoplastics, and microfibers. These particles disperse into oceans, rivers, and soil, entering the food chain and disrupting aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric ecosystems. In response to these environmental and health challenges, extensive research worldwide aims to find effective waste management solutions. Various review articles and strategies have been proposed. This paper explores the link between face masks and environmental sustainability. It then delves into research on polymer recycling and methods for repurposing face masks into value-added products. This includes examining the potential for fuel production from masks, their application in construction materials like concrete and asphalt, and the feasibility of incorporating them into a circular economy to minimize waste. Finally, the paper will summarize the content, address current limitations and challenges, and offer suggestions for future research directions.