I am impelled to bring to your attention the next environmental disaster. We’ve had plastic bottles, single use plastic bags, disposable nappies, balloons, and now we have disposable masks!
They are everywhere; these masks are primarily made in China from thermoplastic polymer and polypropylene. They take hundreds of years to break down and the elastic straps pose a big problem for our wildlife when they entangle their legs.
Worryingly, for those who wear them all day, breathing in the vapors from these sterilized masks may pose a long-term health issue. We need to stop wearing them. Make cotton masks – they take five minutes to make and are reusable and last for years. I have a simple pattern with instructions, you can make them with your children. I’d like to share the pattern free of charge to get the message out there. Text me your email address on 0468 771 196 and I will email it to you to share with your friends and family.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
