By: Grace Hanlon

Masks are an important part of daily life in 2021. When you wear a mask you are protecting yourself and others from the virus COVID 19. They have been a huge help during this pandemic but did you know that masks are negatively affecting other animals? 

We have always had problems with pollution in the oceans. Normally, plastic is what harms animals because they can easily get tangled in it or mistake it for food. Some people started using more reusable items like metal straws and reusable water bottles. But with the pandemic, there has been new harm to the animals and the environment: Masks! 

Some masks are reusable. You just wash them and wear them again. But some are not reusable and you throw them away after using them. This is where the problem starts. A lot of these masks end up in the ocean. 

In 2020, it was estimated that 1.56 billion masks were dumped into the ocean. Just imagine how many more could be in there now! And it’s not just in the oceans where this problem exists. A fox in the UK got tangled in a mask and a robin tangled in Canada, among many other instances. It’s also not good for the environment at all. Even on the littlest beach, people may see face masks wash up on shore every day! 

I think that we should be thinking of ways to resolve this issue but there is something simple, quick and easy that you can do to hopefully reduce the number of animals affected by this problem: all you need is a pair of scissors. 

The next time you throw away a mask, cut off the straps so that they are both hanging off on one side. When you do this there’s a lower chance an animal will get tangled in it. It may not solve the whole problem but it still could help. And it literally takes less than a minute!