By Yumiko PereraGiving rise to a new environmental challenge, the increased consumption of single-use facemasks has begun to pose an imminent threat to water sources as well as marine and wildlife the world over. Carelessly discarded facemasks lodged in little nooks and corners of gutters alongside alleyways and roads have unfortunately become a common sight in most urban areas. It is estimated that Sri Lanka disposes of nearly 15 million single-use facemasks every day, and not all of them end up in a landfill. Usually, micro-organisms like algae do not attach themselves to plastic waste; masks, on the other hand, seem to be the opposite. Ltd. to manage clinical waste in the country, under the purview of the CEA.

Source: The Nation May 15, 2021 23:05 UTC