3 minute read
GETTING RID OF MASKS
Now that the last restrictions have been lifted, we all have an excess of masks lurking in our drawers, cars and handbags. The question posed, how to get rid of them safely
The consensus on throwing away masks, whether disposable or material is to cut the elasticated bands so that they don’t act as traps to wildlife and birds. Essentially though, if disposed of via household waste, they will end up on a landfill, which given the duration of the pandemic, and the massive number of masks that were produced and indeed bought, these annoying by-products of the pandemic are going to drift in the wind and disperse for months, if not years to come.
According to a study, planet earth used just under 130 billion masks per month, that is an astronomical number, extrapolated over the two years of pandemic.
So rather than throwing your cloth mask in the rubbish bin, here are a few ideas on how to upcycle your least favourite fashion accessory. • Join all the masks together to make a unique shopping bag or tote, you can even leave the angles in to create a geometric profile. • Cut them into strips and create cloth, either a table cloth, picnic blanket, dish towel or just a decorative throw. • Cut strips and make bows that you can use for decorative embellishments on presents. • Cut and join together to make a commemorative quilt of the bizarre years. • The elastic pieces can be combined with bows to make hair ties or a retro scrunchie using the material too.
Whilst these are good, creative ideas, they do assume that you are a creative person and enjoy doing crafts. If you have absolutely zero interest in upcycling your old fabric masks, there is another feel-good solution that will allow you to do good at very little effort and you will never need to see your old lipstick-smudger again.
Heavenly Haven, an NPO in Great Brak River, 25km south of George, has started a programme to upcycle old cloth masks into reusable sanitary towels for underprivileged girls. There is a huge need for sanitary products, not just for obvious reasons, but because many girls miss out days of education every month as the cost of feminine hygiene products is just too high. Heavenly Haven is looking for donations of old fabric masks nationally to make the reusable sanitary pads. They have the #maskstopads initiative well underway and there are drop off points throughout the country and some of their collectors are happy to a pick-up or you can send your collection to them via courier.
The NPO is also looking for funding to replace their sewing equipment that has been destroyed in floods. They have a section 21 registration, so any donation can get you an 18A tax certificate and you can claim this from your taxes. This is a very worthwhile initiative; not only does it uplift and provide a necessary product but it is also getting rid of what is sure to become a scourge. If cloth masks are dumped in landfills, they simply become garbage. Yes, they will degrade over time, but they can be upcycled into a product that is much needed and which will last for years. If you would like to get more information or are in a position to do a donation, please contact Heavenly Haven info@heavenlyhaven.co.za or call them at 081 451 9531, alternatively here are some drop off points: 1. Kwikspar Pinelands – Cape Town 2. ARKYS Outreach NPC – office 23 & 24, Imhoff Farm, Kommetjie Road, Cape Town 3. Malagueta Restaurant – Edenvale 4. Pet, Pool & Home – All branches (George, Knysna, Boksburg, Witbank, Middelburg, Paarl, Hermanus, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Sedgefield, Jeffreys Bay, Waterfall KZN, Mossel Bay) 5. Chillrite – No 55 Gum Road, Benoni Agricultral Holdings 6. Body Fuel Express – Roohuiskraal Shopping Centre, 21 Hofsanger RD, Rooihuiskraal, Centurion 7. The 2nd Hand Clothing Warehouse –Corner of Marsh and Church Street, Mosselbay 8. Pure Chiropractic – First Floor, Bram Fischer Centre, 93 Bram Fischer, Dr. Ferndale, Randburg 2194 0109004885 9. Pure Health Centre – 218 Voortrekker Rd, Monument, Krugersdorp. 1739, 0119546091 10. Old Oak Spar – Belville �
