The pandemic changed what we throw away, but now it's changing back
Metro Vancouver residents threw out roughly 260 million face masks in 2021, more than double the total from the previous year, according to the regional district's latest waste composition study.
The rise in mask use is one of several notable pandemic-related trends that can be seen in the region's trash.
In 2020, for example, the number of disposable cups residents threw out plummeted compared to 2018 levels, dropping from 262 million (102 per person) to 174 million (64 per person).
Large swaths of society staying home meant less reason to buy coffee and other beverages to go.
In 2021, the number of disposable cups in the region's trash rebounded to 271 million (98 per person due to population growth).
Single-use takeout containers experienced the opposite trend. Metro Vancouver residents threw out 259 million of them in 2020, with restaurants closed to in-person dining for part of the year. That was a significant increase from 2018, when 179 million were disposed of, but totals returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2021.
It's not just what people threw out that changed because of COVID-19, according to Terry Fulton, senior project engineer for Metro Vancouver's solid waste services team. Where trash was thrown out also shifted significantly.
"What we noticed in 2020 was – not surprisingly – there was a lot less coming from businesses as people were spending a lot more time at home, and that resulted in a shift in the composition (of waste)," Fulton told CTV News.
Now that more people have returned to offices and nearly all COVID-19-related restrictions have ended, he said the region's waste disposal patterns have largely returned to normal.
Fulton framed the return of pre-pandemic habits as "an opportunity" to reduce waste, citing retail shopping bags as an example.
During the early days of the pandemic, bag use increased, with many stores temporarily prohibiting customers from bringing their own reusable bags over fears about virus transmission on surfaces.
In 2021, bag use remained high, despite few, if any, stores continuing such prohibitions.
"Now that residents can bring their own reusable bags again and reusable cups, we encourage residents to continue those habits," Fulton said.
That, along with other actions like saying no to disposable utensils and straws, "can go a long way to reducing our single-use items and reducing our waste in general," he added.
Face masks, of course, are also disposable, but Fulton said they made up only a small proportion of Metro Vancouver's waste in 2021, even as mandates caused their numbers to surge.
"Personal protective equipment only represents a small fraction – less than one per cent – of all waste that's disposed (in Metro Vancouver), but it is something that we'll keep an eye on going forward," Fulton said.
He noted that waste composition studies are "a snapshot in time," and said it's not surprising that the number of masks thrown out in 2021 was much higher than in 2020.
Metro Vancouver's 2020 waste composition study was conducted before masks were made mandatory in all indoor public spaces in B.C., while the 2021 study was conducted in December and January, near the peak of the Omicron wave and after nearly a full year of mask mandates.
In 2022, with masks recommended but no longer required, the number seen in our trash is likely to decline again.
"We do waste composition studies annually and we will definitely be continuing to look at personal protective equipment in future studies and see how that changes as we no longer have things like mask mandates," Fulton said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Montreal doctors' breakthrough discovery about causes of cerebral palsy giving hope
A breakthrough discovery made by doctors at the Montreal Children's Hospital about the causes of cerebral palsy is giving new hope to one West Island family.
Weather alerts issued for 7 provinces, 1 territory
Warnings of up to 60 millimetres of rain and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces and one territory ahead of the Easter weekend.
Ontario homeowner on the hook for $27,000 when contractor severed power line
An Ontario man who built a garage on his property has been locked in a battle with his electricity provider for a year and half over a severed power line.
He didn't trust police but sought their help anyway. Two days later, he was dead
Jameek Lowery was among more than 330 Black people who died after police stopped them with tactics that aren’t supposed to be deadly, like physical restraint and use of stun guns, The Associated Press found.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Why Kim Kardashian is being sued for 'knockoff' furniture
The estate of minimalist contemporary artist Donald Judd filed a lawsuit against Kardashian this week, claiming the fashion and beauty mogul promoted 'cheap knockoffs' of his furniture designs.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Louis Gossett Jr., 1st Black man to win supporting actor Oscar, dies at 87
Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar and an Emmy winner for his role in the seminal TV miniseries 'Roots,' has died. He was 87.