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Life cycle analyses of masks and their end of life

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the massive use of medical masks, two life cycle analyses were conducted to evaluate the environmental impacts of end-of-life management of single-use masks used in Quebec, but also of different types of reusable and single-use masks.

One of the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic is the increased use of masks all around the world. Mandatory wearing of masks for health reasons, particularly in institutional and commercial environments, has resulted in large volumes of masks quickly ending up in landfills. Gradually, other end-of-life management options were developed, raising questions about their environmental impact and the cost of mask recovery options. It is in this context that RECYC-QUÉBEC has launched a project on the end-of-life management of single-use masks used in Quebec, as well as on different types of reusable and single-use masks. Two studies were conducted: the first one compared the environmental footprint of single-use masks under different end-of-life scenarios. The second study compared the environmental footprint of reusable masks to that of single-use masks used in Quebec. A comparison of the direct costs to the users of these masks was also performed.

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