COVID litter: we mapped discarded masks and gloves in 11 countries with the help of citizen science

Keiron Roberts; Ian D. Williams; Simon Kolstoe

COVID litter: we mapped discarded masks and gloves in 11 countries with the help of citizen science

Keiron Roberts
, Ian D. Williams
, Simon Kolstoe

University of Southampton

Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article

Abstract

If at some stage during the COVID pandemic you’ve had a face mask mysteriously disappear from your pocket, you’re not alone. From March 2020 countless discarded blue and white masks started appearing around the world.

While face masks are an important protective measure against COVID-19, it quickly became clear that face mask litter was going to be a by-product of the pandemic.

Keen to study the scale of this issue, but unable to travel far from our locked-down homes, we decided to use data gathered through a citizen science app called Litterati. This app asks people around the world to record any litter they find.

In our new study, published in the journal Nature Sustainability, we analysed data on mask and glove litter from September 2019 (before the pandemic) up to October 2020. We looked at 11 countries, including the UK, and compared the litter trends with each country’s approach to dealing with COVID-19.

Original language	English
Specialist publication	The Conversation
Publication status	Published - 9 Dec 2021

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 14 Life Below Water
SDG 15 Life on Land
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals

Keywords

Covid-19
plastic
masks
gloves
wipes
litter
sustainability
pandemic
policy
government
legislation
waste management

Access to Document

https://theconversation.com/covid-litter-we-mapped-discarded-masks-and-gloves-in-11-countries-with-the-help-of-citizen-science-171078

3 Article
1 Commissioned report

Artificial intelligence enhanced litter pollution mapping: integrating citizen science with geospatial and social data
Rezaei, H., Roberts, K., Arabikhan, F., Fletcher, S., March, A. L. A., Couceiro, F., Bacon, D., Hutchinson, D. & Williams, J., 1 Feb 2026, In: Environmental Modelling & Software. 197, 18 p., 106823.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access
File
11 Downloads (Pure)
Increased personal protective equipment litter as a result of COVID-19 measures
Roberts, K., Phang, S., Williams, J., Hutchinson, D., Kolstoe, S., de Bie, J., Williams, I. D. & Stringfellow, A. M., 1 Mar 2022, In: Nature Sustainability. 5, p. 272–279 8 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access
File
123 Downloads (Pure)
Policy Options to Eliminate Additional Marine Plastic Litter by 2050 under the G20 Osaka Blue Ocean Vision: An International Resource Panel Think Piece
Fletcher, S., Roberts, K., Shirian, Y., Virdin, J., Conesa Alcolea, I., Brown, A., Buzzi, E., Henderson, L., Laubinger, F., Milà i Canals, L., Salam, S., Anton Schmuck, S., Mira Veiga, J., Winton, S. J. & Marie Youngblood, K., 13 Jul 2021, United Nations Environment Programme. 56 p.
Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report

Open Access
File
Coronavirus face masks: an environmental disaster that might last generations
Roberts, K., Bowyer, C., Kolstoe, S. & Fletcher, S., 14 Aug 2020, The Conversation.
Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article

Open Access

2 Finished

Policy options to reduce additional pollution by maritime plastic litter by 2050
Fletcher, S. (PI), Roberts, K. (CoI), Salam, S. (Team Member) & Winton, S. (Team Member)
3/02/20 → 31/07/20
Project: Research
CGUK: Connecting Innovation for Clean Growth (CGUK)
Hutchinson, D. (PI) & Roberts, K. (CoI)
1/04/18 → 30/06/22
Project: Research

Vice Chancellor's Award for Excellence 2023
Roberts, K. (Recipient), Fletcher, S. (Recipient), Bowyer, C. (Recipient), Salam, S. (Recipient), Winton, S. (Recipient), Northen, S. (Recipient), Nieminen, L. K. (Recipient), Couceiro, F. (Recipient), March, A. (Recipient) & Evans, T. (Recipient), 28 Nov 2023
Prize: National/international honour

Cite this

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COVID litter: we mapped discarded masks and gloves in 11 countries with the help of citizen science

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Research output

Artificial intelligence enhanced litter pollution mapping: integrating citizen science with geospatial and social data

Increased personal protective equipment litter as a result of COVID-19 measures

Policy Options to Eliminate Additional Marine Plastic Litter by 2050 under the G20 Osaka Blue Ocean Vision: An International Resource Panel Think Piece

Coronavirus face masks: an environmental disaster that might last generations

Projects

Policy options to reduce additional pollution by maritime plastic litter by 2050

CGUK: Connecting Innovation for Clean Growth (CGUK)

Prizes

Vice Chancellor's Award for Excellence 2023

Cite this