Aiming at the severe environmental problems caused by the surge in disposable mask usage due to the epidemics of respiratory diseases such as COVID-19 and H1N1, the feasibility of masks as soil reinforcement materials was explored, triaxial tests and seepage tests were conducted on calcareous sand mixed with different mass fractions of masks, the effects of mask mass fraction on the strength, modulus, volumetric strain, particle breakage rate and permeability coefficient of calcareous sand were studied, and the improvement effect of masks on the mechanical properties of calcareous sand was analyzed. The test results show that with the increase of mask mass fraction, the strength, ductility and internal friction angle of the mask-calcareous sand mixture increase, while the permeability, particle loss and shear dilation are inhibited. The reinforcement effect of masks on soil arises from the high friction at the contact interface between the masks and calcareous sand, and when the soil deforms, the masks improve the overall strength of the mixture by restricting the movement of soil particles. Based on a comprehensive evaluation of the influence of masks on the performance of calcareous sand, the optimal mass fraction of masks is determined to be 0.3%.