Can disposable masks be worn more than once?

Disposable facemasks are a primary tool to prevent the transmission of SARS-COV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, plastic waste generated from their disposal represents a significant environmental problem that can be reduced by maximizing the service life of disposable masks. We evaluated the effect of repeated wearing on the fitted filtration efficiency (FFE) of N95, KF94, KN95, and procedure/surgical masks. The FFEs of masks were compared following extended wearing with and without washing. Results reveal that most disposable facemasks can retain a high level of their baseline FFE after extended wearing, even after 40 h of wearing. Laundering disposable masks degraded FFE in some instances. We conclude that the durability of disposable facemask performance is considerably longer than their intended single use indication, suggesting that reusing disposable masks is a safe means of reducing plastic waste in the environment. •Disposable facemask use during COVID-19 generates a significant plastic waste burden.•Filtration of disposable facemask types was tested after repeated wear and/or wash.•High levels of performance were found after repeated wearing for most types tested.•Washing degraded facemask performance after 1 or 2 washes.•Facemask durability and reusability support extended use to reduce plastic waste.