The Acceptable Face Of Covid Control?

[mushroom25]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-54057799

is environmental damage the price society has to pay to control the virus?

[woofgang]

Of course not and its nothing to do with covid but with stupid people. people who already dispose of their rubbish thoughtfully will dispose of their masks thoughtfully. Selfish thoughless stupid idiots will dump their masks just as they dump their other rubbish. If thoase same selfish stupid thoughtless people move to reusable masks then they will stuff them in their pockets or handbags between uses, never wash them, touch them with unwashed hands and pull them up and down at will. Seen on facebook "We are fighting two pandemics: covid and stupidity."

[EnsignRutherford]

Local Authorities can issue on the spot fines for littering, which this is. Persistent offenders who are prosecuted with a maximum fine of £2,500.

[EnsignRutherford]

Webbo3
I must have missed the news item about Gypsies persistently discarding their face masks, can you supply a link?

[ichkeria]

I think it’s one if those things where you have to not look too closely at the ridiculousness of the small print and see the bigger picture from a distance. I’m slightly surprised at the fuss the six people rule had caused. Compared to the threat of locking everyone down again it’s pretty innocuous. If the close schools again I’ll be on the streets :-)

[Mamyalynne]

Welcome to AB EnsignRutherford, threads have a habit of being steered down a sidetrack.

My view is that the public should be strongly advised in the correct use of reusable masks to at least reduce this new blight on the streets,lanes and beaches.

[ichkeria]

Ok don’t dispose of mine
I keep using it

[ichkeria]

I don’t dispose I meant

[Barsel]

Perhaps more bins are needed? On my walk from the car park to the doctors surgery there were lots of discarded masks on the paths, in the bushes, but not 1 bin in sight. Even if half of the 'couldn't care less' people were to use them, then it would help a little.

[fender62]

why dump them, put them in a pillow case tie end, then hot wash.

[Mamyalynne]

I'm assuming most of those discarded are the single use disposable type.

[Barsel]

fender, not all the masks would withstand water.There are a lot of cotton washable masks on the market, but I don't know if they offer the same protection.

[fender62]

i did washed a few, seems to work?

[Mamyalynne]

I have a few reusable ones and they get washed, I would use the disposables for medical appointments etc. and dispose of properly.

[jno]

Barsel does have a point about bins. Some places have them, others don't. The latter tend to have dirtier streets regardless of masks. I went a quarter of a mile looking for one today.

[douglas9401]

Disposable masks, I'm not following you.

Mine has served me well since The Decree from Beaut Hoose.

[jourdain2]

Everyone I see coming out of supermarkets etc. removes their masks and shoves it in a pocket or handbag (sometimes putting it into a plastic bag first) ready for re-use. Not exactly high hygiene, but they do cost to buy. The more careless seem to just dump them wherever - or perhaps have hooked them behind one ear when not wanted and they have fallen off (masks not ears).

Litterers just have more litter to drop. Responsible environments such as hospitals are busy filling-up landfill sites, just when we are all trying to avoid this.

[New Judge]

//Not exactly high hygiene,...//

Indeed not. And one of the principle reasons why those not trained in the use of PPE should not attempt to use it when there is an infectious disease running at pandemic levels. A far stronger reason, in fact, than suggesting they wear one in an attempt to avoid spreading the disease to others. The very reason (as I have explained before) why I won't wear one.

[gness]

Nothing to do with Covid control. Litter is a huge problem in the UK. Dropping one use masks is second nature to those who drop all sorts of litter.
I have eight reusable masks each washed on returning home. It's not difficult.