How The Pandemic Is Driving A Boom In Pollution

Switzerland spends more than $200 million annually to combat littering, but this year its cleanup efforts feature a new type of rubbish: discarded face masks used for COVID-19 protection.

When Let’s Do It Switzerland joined the annual World Cleanup Day event in September, the more than five tons of garbage collected by more than 1,000 volunteers included more than 500 masks. More than 100 masks alone were found near Lake Geneva, which has seen more gatherings than usual as the virus has forced restaurants and bars to close.