Defra has published new guidance on how to dispose of personal or business waste — including face coverings and personal protective equipment (PPE) — during the coronavirus pandemic.
The advice, published yesterday (July 13), applies to England only and not for healthcare settings such as hospitals or primary care providers.
The advice states face coverings and PPE waste only needs to be double bagged when someone is self-isolating
It states that people do not need to double bag PPE when disposing of it, or store for any extra amount of time, as this should only be done if someone is self-isolating.
And, it states that businesses must provide extra bins for staff and customers to throw away their waste face coverings, as well as ensuring they’re emptied regularly.
The advice comes as face masks have been made mandatory in all shops in England from 24 July.
The webpage with the information also includes a prominent ink to the Recycle Now website to find information about recycling during the coronavirus pandemic, with the guidance on the website appearing to be out of date, as it was last updated on 27 March.
Coverings and PPE
Defra has warned people not to put any PPE in with their recycling
For face coverings and PPE for social distancing, the advice states that people should:
- Wash and reuse cloth face coverings to prevent and reduce waste
- Remove PPE carefully and avoid touching the inside of your face covering
- After you remove your PPE or face covering, wash your hands or use hand sanitiser
Disposal
When disposing of PPE waste, it states that this should be disposed of in a black bag waste bin at home, or a litter bin outside. This should not be put in the recycling and must be taken home if there are no litter bins available.
Those not self-isolating do not need to double bag PPE or store it for any amount of time.
“If you run a business you should provide extra bins for your staff and customers to throw away their waste face coverings “
For those self isolating, the guidance states that PPE waste should be double bagged and left for 72 hours before being put out for collection.
Businesses
For businesses returning after the lockdown, Defra encourages people to read the working safely during coronavirus guidance.
With regard to waste, yesterday’s guidance states that businesses must:
- Provide extra bins for staff and customers to throw away their waste face coverings and PPE used for social distancing, and any other additional waste, such as takeaway packaging and disposable tableware
- Make sure that staff and customers do not put face coverings and PPE in a recycling bin as they cannot be recycled through conventional recycling facilities
- Make sure bins are emptied often so they do not overflow and create litter
Businesses do not need to collect PPE separately but, if they do, they must describe and code the waste correctly.
“Ask your waste contractor if there is anything else you need to do,” the Defra advice added.
If staff are using PPE at work to protect against risks other than coronavirus, they can throw it away in the usual way.
Businesses can put used disposable face coverings and PPE in an ‘offensive waste’ collection (yellow bags with a black stripe), if they have one.
Cleaning waste
Cleaning waste should be disposed of as normal, the guide states, with used cloths and wipes put in the ‘black bag’ waste bin.
These also do not need to be double bagged or left out for any amount of time.
Useful links
The guidance ‘Coronavirus (COVID-19): disposing of waste’ can be read HERE.
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
