About Us
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, disposable masks have become an essential item in daily life as one of the most effective personal protection equipment (PPE). The accompanying issue is the ecologically unfriendly treatment of masks, including improper discarding, incineration, and landfill. Contaminated masks may be found in public spaces such as sidewalks, park trails and office buildings, posing a serious threat to the environment and public health. However, used masks can indeed be recycled into plastic for the development and construction of valuable products.
Who We Are
We are students at McMaster University.
We are working on a community intervention initiative called Discarded Disposable Mask Recycling Program.
We intend to expand this project beyond McMaster University and contribute to the sustainable development of the City of Hamilton.
The goal of our project is to educate people about the dangers of poor mask management, encourage them to recycle used masks, and participate in the sustainable development of Hamilton consciously.
McMaster University has already taken action!
What is the role of McMaster University?
​
Researchers at McMaster's Centre of Excellence in Protective Equipment and Materials (CEPEM) are partnering with Vitacore company to launch Canada's first recycling program for disposable masks. The program aims to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas waste generated by incinerating discarded disposable masks in landfills. By collecting discarded disposable masks in mask recycling bins and sending them to professional firms, they will then be disinfected and broken down into pellets that can be used in products such as concrete reinforcement, weatherproofing films, exterior siding and carpeting.
CEPEM is currently conducting research to expand the possible uses of recycled materials.
​
The image shows McMaster student Esther Kok using the disposable mask recycling bin in main entrance of Mills Memorial Library.