COVID-19 Waste Calculator
Quantify the plastic waste and greenhouse gas emissions from personal protective equipment (PPE) and sanitation supplies over any time period.
Single-use surgical or medical mask (≈3 g plastic, 12 g CO₂e).
Nitrile or latex gloves used in pairs.
Individual wipes with plastic fibers and packaging.
Non-woven polypropylene gown used in clinical settings.
Total PPE waste
5.6 kg
Equivalent to 280 plastic bottles.
Carbon footprint
17.2 kg CO₂e
Roughly 42.57 miles of driving.
Per-person waste
0.56 kg
Use this for reporting or sustainability dashboards.
How to Use This Calculator
Define your group
Enter the number of people and how many weeks and days they use PPE.
Estimate daily PPE usage
Provide the average number of masks, gloves, wipes, and gowns used per person per day.
Review waste and emissions
Instantly view total waste, CO₂e impact, and per-person metrics to guide reduction strategies.
Formula
Total Waste = Σ (Daily Usage × People × Days × Item Weight)
Carbon Footprint = Σ (Daily Usage × People × Days × Item CO₂ Factor)
Example: 50 people × 5 days/week × 4 weeks × 2 masks × 3 g = 6 kg mask waste.
Apply the same method for gloves, wipes, and gowns, then sum the totals.
About the COVID-19 Waste Calculator
Personal protective equipment kept communities safe during the pandemic, but it also generated large volumes of plastic waste. This calculator quantifies those impacts so healthcare facilities, schools, and businesses can plan responsible disposal and reduction strategies.
When to Use This Calculator
- Hospitals & clinics: Monitor PPE waste trends over time.
- Schools & workplaces: Evaluate the impact of mask mandates or safety policies.
- Environmental assessments: Estimate landfill or incineration loads from PPE.
- CSR reporting: Communicate sustainability initiatives related to PPE reduction.
Why Use Our Calculator?
- ✅ Evidence-based numbers: Uses peer-reviewed weights and emission factors for common PPE.
- ✅ Flexible inputs: Works for small teams or entire organizations.
- ✅ Immediate translation: Converts waste into relatable metrics like plastic bottles.
- ✅ Action-oriented: Provides baseline data for setting reduction targets.
Common Applications
Procurement teams: Forecast disposal costs and explore reusable alternatives.
Sustainability analysts: Integrate PPE impacts into broader carbon inventories.
Public agencies: Assess municipal waste streams from mass distribution programs.
Tips for Best Results
- Track actual usage for a representative week to refine inputs.
- Encourage reuse or sterilization programs where safe and compliant.
- Partner with recycling services that accept PPE to lower the disposal footprint.
- Review results quarterly to spot trends as safety policies change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are reusable masks or gowns included?
This calculator focuses on disposable PPE. To model reusable options, lower the daily usage numbers and add cleaning energy in a separate assessment.
Do the carbon factors include transportation?
The emission factors cover typical manufacturing and disposal impacts. For precise studies, add transportation emissions separately.
How were the weights selected?
Weights come from published averages for medical-grade PPE. Actual products may differ slightly; adjust the factors if you have supplier-specific data.
Can I export the results?
Copy the totals directly into your reporting template or screenshot the summary panel. Future updates will include CSV export.