Preliminary Evaluation of the Viability of Single-Use Face Masks as a Substitute Nonwoven Geotextile

Surgical face masks (FMs) are single-use disposable masks worn by healthcare workers and the public to protect them from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This action resulted in a large quantity of waste in the environment. Recent studies reported that adding shredded FMs to concrete, hot-mix asphalt, and marginal soils improved their mechanical properties. This study proposes an innovative engineering solution by recycling disinfected FMs into substitute nonwoven geotextiles (SNGs). Heat-bonding FMs produced two types of SNGs with different ply arrangements. The SNGs’ hydraulic and mechanical properties were tested, statistically analyzed, and compared to commercial geotextiles. The water permeability of the SNGs was negligible regardless of the ply arrangement. On the one hand, the intercomparison of the breaking strength of the SNGs produced shows a marginal difference. The experimental results confirm that the recycled FMs are viable SNGs for commercial geotextiles.