Environmental and Sustainability Assessment of Non-Medical Mask Waste Recycling to Plastic Pellets Using Life Cycle Approach

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased the consumption of disposable masks, primarily composed of polypropylene (PP), resulting in a surge of plastic waste with long-lasting environmental implications. Due to the persistence and ecological risks of discarded masks, the development of sustainable waste management strategies is essential. This study applied a life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental impacts of recycling non-medical mask waste into PP pellets, compared to conventional disposal methods such as open burning, incineration, and landfilling. The assessment employed openLCA 1.11.0 software and Ecoinvent v3.8 database. The functional unit was 1000 kg of mask waste processed into recycled PP pellets. The results indicate that the pelletizing process contributes to global warming potential (1.98 x 10(3) kg CO2 eq) and terrestrial ecotoxicity (2.39 x 10(3) kg 1,4-DCB eq). The voluntary collection stage also contributes to terrestrial ecotoxicity (1.21 x 10(3) kg 1,4-DCB eq) and human carcinogenic toxicity (9.05 x 10(1) kg 1,4-DCB eq). Meanwhile, alteration of electricity consumption by +/- 10% leads to a significant change in freshwater eutrophication (+/- 9.47%) and global warming potential (+/- 7.60%). To mitigate these impacts, strategies such as energy efficiency improvements, adoption of cleaner production technologies, better waste sorting practices, and enhanced public awareness are recommended. Not to forget, it should involve the role of policymakers and industry stakeholders.