Billions of used corona masks and rubber gloves thrown into landfills every month are suitable for shredding into small pieces, adding to cement and making the concrete up to 22% stronger than the traditional mix, according to a new study
Billions of used corona masks, isolation gowns and rubber gloves thrown into landfills every month have found a new purpose – they can strengthen concrete by up to 20 percent and improve crack resistance compared to the traditional mix. The discovery announced by the University of Melbourne – Australia, requires mixing into cement in different volumes, between 0.1 percent and 0.25 percent.
The research shows that rubber gloves increase the strength of the concrete by 22 percent, insulating robes by 21 percent, the strength of the concrete by 15 percent and flexibility by 12 percent, and face masks increased the strength of the concrete by 17 percent. The new use of the items will put an end to approximately 54,000 tons of waste accumulating in landfills every day around the world.
Billions of used COVID-19 masks can be shredded into tiny pieces and added to cement to make concrete up to 22% stronger https://t.co/CNjFZE113s
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) August 29, 2022
The team notes that there are approximately 129 billion masks that are thrown into the trash every day around the world, which has raised concerns among environmental activists because they create clutter in landfills. So according to RMIT University.
The goal is to eliminate the tons of waste thrown into landfills, since most of it ends up in lakes, rivers and oceans, crowding out and harming marine life. In an article published by the University of Southern Denmark last year, experts called the huge amount of face masks being worn and thrown away a “ticking time bomb”.