Despite social efforts, the rapid spread of COVID 19 has spread the perception that it is safe to use disposable products. It's as if using disposables is essential to avoid being infected with COVID 19. In the early days of the COVID 19 outbreak, the government and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that wearing a mask and washing your hands can help prevent the virus. However, the government mandated that disposable plastic gloves should be worn after disinfection at the time of voting. Of course, anxiety about infectious diseases is natural. However, recommending the use of disposable products, rather than thorough supervision of cleaning and disinfection of multi-use containers at business, would break the social agreement on reducing disposable products in the meantime and is concerned that it might be a degenerated policy. Rather, according to a study by the National Institutes of Health, coronavirus can survive up to three days on a plastic surface. Disposable products are used to prevent infection, but may be the cause of infection.
Medical experts also point out that anxiety about using multi-use containers is excessive. A family medicine specialist said there is little chance of infection if the container is washed with detergent and dried well. He also said that infections in restaurants are more dangerous on handles, tables and chairs than on dishes. In addition, he explained that most viruses, including the new coronavirus, do not need to be anxious about multi-containers because ethyl alcohol alone has sufficient killing effect.
The 'second trash crisis' must be prevented
In April 2018, China's ban on imports of waste led to a "garbage crisis'' in the metropolitan area. A huge amount of garbage accumulated near the citizens' homes. It's not that different from the current situation. Disposable products are being used insanely due to COVID 19 and the amount of plastic waste is generated tremendously, as recycling costs are falling to the lowest level due to the drop in international oil prices. When COVID 19 is over, the 'second trash crisis' may come.
So what should we do? The most effective way is not to use the disposable product itself. As much as possible, use multi-use products and break the stereotype of 'it is safe to use disposable products'. Multi-use containers that have been thoroughly cleaned may be safer than disposables and may have a positive impact on the environment. Delivery Food and delivery services should also be minimized, and companies should be asked to minimize delivery of disposable products. Even if COVID 19 ends, you shouldn't let go of the idea of not using disposables in your daily life.
The government should quickly prepare measures to minimize the use of disposable products and prepare for the spillage of COVID 19 after it is over. It is necessary to limit the production of non-recyclable plastics at the production stage of products, and standardize and standardize plastic products to facilitate recycling after use. In the packaging stage of the product, unnecessary packaging materials should be reduced, and even when using packaging materials, packaging materials that cannot be recycled should be restricted or penalties, such as taxes, should be imposed on companies that use them. In addition, measures should be taken to deal with the rejection of collection through public management at the garbage collection and screening stage.
Our concerns and fears about COVID 19 are natural. However, you should also be wary of the explosively growing plastic waste. The destruction of the environment and ecosystems caused by plastics is getting worse day by day. No one knows when the Earth will be submerged in the sea of garbage. It could be 10 years now, or tomorrow.