The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly changed many aspects of our daily lives, but one notable change is the presence of single-use plastic gloves and masks that are littering the streets of cities. To examine this global littering phenomenon, Professor Mark Benfield is conducting a study and asking the public to submit their photographs of discarded medical masks and gloves. The study will also include research from Benfield's colleagues in San Diego, Long Island, Shenzhen, and New Orleans.
"Obviously people view these items as being contaminated with the virus. They don’t want them in their cars nor their pockets," wrote Benfield. He suggests that individuals know they shouldn't litter as the items in question are often left in semi-concealed areas. However, Benfield notes that in Shenzhen, the litter is drastically reduced, which he attributes to the dedicated PPE disposal bins found throughout the city.
Those interested in participating in the research can submit their photographs to covid19waste@gmail.com.
Pandemic-Related Littering Research
Professor Mark Benfield is Asking the Public for Litter Images
Trend Themes
1. Single-use Plastic Waste - The presence of single-use plastic gloves and masks littering the streets is creating opportunities for disruptive innovation in waste management and sustainable alternatives.
2. PPE Disposal Infrastructure - The success of dedicated PPE disposal bins in reducing litter in Shenzhen highlights the potential for disruptive innovation in the development of efficient and widespread disposal systems.
3. Public Engagement in Research - The call for public participation in submitting photographs of littered medical masks and gloves presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation in citizen science and crowd-sourced data collection.
Industry Implications
1. Waste Management - The increase in single-use plastic waste calls for disruptive innovation in waste management systems to tackle the environmental impact and find sustainable solutions.
2. Disposal Infrastructure - The need for efficient and widespread PPE disposal systems creates opportunities for disruptive innovation in waste infrastructure and bin design.
3. Citizen Science - The public's engagement in submitting litter photographs for research opens up avenues for disruptive innovation in citizen science platforms and data collection methods.