As face coverings and gloves have become the new normal, a litter prevention initiative sounds the alarm on the spike in plastic consumption since the outset of the pandemic, promoting practices that incentivise sustainability.

The De-Litter initiative gears towards cleaning the streets of littered latex gloves and face masks that have become necessary when the pandemic first started.

"It has become compulsory for the public to wear face masks and gloves, but little guidance was given on how to dispose of them properly,” Nerissa Abu Hanna, founder of De-Litter told The Jordan Times over the phone on Thursday. 

According to Abu Hanna, the story behind De-Litter began when she went for a walk to a nearby supermarket and noticed "the prevailing blue and white colours” in the midst of the "usual litter”.  

The pandemic has triggered the use of millions of face masks in Jordan. Even though wearing masks is an effective way of mitigating the spread of the coronavirus, throwing them on the streets smothers the environment and hinders the Kingdom’s response efforts as discarded masks and gloves pose the risk of spreading the virus, she said.

Most discarded face coverings and gloves are found in busy areas and near commercial centres, she said.

"Face masks and gloves have become the new disposable coffee cups usually littered shamelessly in the streets,” she said, noting that given the bright blue colours of masks and gloves many kids are attracted to touch them, therefore it is of utmost importance to dispose of them in the "right place”.

Environmentally friendly alternatives need to be promoted, according to Abu Hanna who added that it is important to shift to the reusable mentality, "people can follow sustainable practices in their own ways and each one of us can make a difference,” she said.

 "When we pick up discarded masks and gloves, we are sending a quiet yet powerful message to raise people’s awareness,” she added.