From sandwiches packed in plastic and a plastic water bottle on arrival at the airport, to 21 bottles of water, one for each day of hotel quarantine, to the amount of disposable plastic being used for food deliveries, a simple back-of-the-envelope calculation reveals a mind-boggling amount of extra plastic being used in the city. The pandemic has made normal life difficult, but we cannot afford to lose sight of the environmental impact of it. While travellers need to be responsible, the government and operators of quarantine hotels should also give the issue some thought. Hoteliers could: Provide a welcome kit containing reusable utensils and dish soap. This could be a branding and public relations opportunity Provide reusable water filter jugs and refillable water dispensers in guest rooms Serve in-house meals in reusable dishes. If towels can be replaced and washed, dishes can, too. The government, for its part, could: Use biodegradable packaging for sandwiches. If the packaging is offered as advertising space, there will be enough takers Have contactless water filling stations at the airport, instead of plastic water bottles Have compulsory requirements for quarantine hotels to minimise plastic (ab)use. Sabina Mahapatra, Mid-Levels
