Disposable masks polluting tourist destinations in Papua
Published on: Tuesday, September 14, 2021
By: Tempo Indonesia
Facemasks litter the dock at Lake Sentani, Jayapura, Papua. (Suroto Day)
JAKARTA: Mandatory mask-use during the pandemic has created a new waste problem that is polluting the environment. In Papua, a researcher from the Papua Archaeological Center, Hari Suroto, said that mask wastes are polluting areas including tourist destinations. Most of the wastes are disposable medical masks. In Berau Bay, Fakfak Regency, West Papua, medical mask waste is contaminating the waters.
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“People just throw away their medical masks in the waters,” Hari Suroto told Tempo on Monday.
According to Hari, a lecturer in archaeology at Cenderawasih University, Papua, mask waste is difficult to decompose. They are damaging the aquatic ecosystem of Berau Bay.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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