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Coronavirus pandemic prompts the readoption of single-use items, adding to increased household waste

Wednesday, 10 February 2021

The coronavirus pandemic has lead to the readoption of many single-use items, thereby increasing household waste in Australia

Single-use items such as food containers, disposable coffee cups, and delivery packaging are among the leading causes of population, as they cannot be recycled and almost always end up in landfills.

The global pandemic forces us to spend more time at home and limit physical contact, prompting an increase in the use of disposable items, including surgical masks and delivery packaging.

Australian households are now producing 20% more waste than during the same period last year.

While recycling has increased as well, there is a new problem on the rise: waste contamination. This happens because consumers are not yet fully aware of which items can or can not be recycled, leading to food trays and other non-recyclable plastic making it into the recycling bins.

Until it’s safe for us to go back to reusable plates, coffee cups, and cutlery, we need to find effective ways to reduce waste.

Some simple practices, such as avoiding plastic lids or paying more attention to what’s written on the products we purchase can make a difference and reduce unnecessary waste.

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