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benek84  
#1 Posted : 27 March 2020 14:02:56(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
benek84

Hi. Do you have any information how should people dispose the masks worn against spread of covid and potentially contaminated?

Thank you

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Kim Hedges on 28/03/2020(UTC)
Anjorin30072  
#2 Posted : 27 March 2020 15:21:44(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
Anjorin30072

Hi,

There is information available on the GOV.UK website see link below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-decontamination-in-non-healthcare-settings/covid-19-decontamination-in-non-healthcare-settings 

Ben A

peter gotch  
#3 Posted : 28 March 2020 10:51:34(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
peter gotch

benek - the first question would be why masks are being used in the first place.

Guidance from WHO which has been repeated by some national authorities is that the situations where the use of masks would be appropriate are quite limited.

There is of course a lot of information around encouraging all and sundry to decide on the use of masks, resulting both in a shortage of supply where REALLY needed and some sharks either escalating the price of masks that meet e.g. EC Conformity standards, or selling kit that is not fit for purpose (or at least the purpose when a high level of protection is warranted).

The next bit which has been far from well communicated is what SPECIFICATION of either surgical or protective mask.

Both surgical and protective (to various levels of protection) have their legitimate purpose at this time, but most references are simply to "masks".

Edited by user 28 March 2020 10:54:13(UTC)  | Reason: Additional sentence

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A Kurdziel on 30/03/2020(UTC)
Kim Hedges  
#4 Posted : 28 March 2020 20:46:37(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Kim Hedges

Keep it simple.  Our rubbish collection still runs across the country, it's not the winter of discontent of the mid 1970's when rubbish stopped being collected for months. 

So whilst still in gloves and and mask, put the 'used' PPE into a polythene sack and then put it into another sack, effectively double bagging it, tie it best you can or use a cable tie or heavy sticky tape. 

General waste these days is incinerated, all of Londons waste comes to Avonmouth, Bristol where there is an incinerator.  

Edited by user 28 March 2020 20:48:16(UTC)  | Reason: spelling

Roundtuit  
#5 Posted : 28 March 2020 21:02:20(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

London's recycling?
thanks 2 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
Kim Hedges on 29/03/2020(UTC), Kim Hedges on 29/03/2020(UTC)
Roundtuit  
#6 Posted : 28 March 2020 21:02:20(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

London's recycling?
thanks 2 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
Kim Hedges on 29/03/2020(UTC), Kim Hedges on 29/03/2020(UTC)
peter gotch  
#7 Posted : 29 March 2020 15:00:34(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
peter gotch

Kim, the word "incinerator" is very much out of fashion in the waste industry.

I think, though I would need to check, that Avonmouth is an EfW - Energy from Waste facility.

There are incinerators that have been decommissioned and waiting for demolition. 20th Century technology that is not suitable when we are trying to reduce the carbon footprint.

So waste these days is moving steadily in the direction of EfW, materials recovery, composting etc.

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Kim Hedges on 29/03/2020(UTC)
Kim Hedges  
#8 Posted : 29 March 2020 16:51:06(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Kim Hedges

I stand corrected, yes technically they are waste to power, they burn general waste, (used PPE is treated as general waste as far as I know, it shouldn't be recycled as it it mixed materials, plasic the elasticated band, an alloy or soft plastic for the nose pinch).   Which gets collected in London for instance, put on a railway wagon and shipped to Avonmouth. 

The waste is burnt, heat is produced to make steam and a turbine is driven to produce electricity.

There is another waste to energy plant being built, may have been finished already (incidentally, I helped lay the foundations for it) also in Avonmouth, by the 'bends' on Smoke Rd.  Bristol and the surounding districts will have their waste burnt there.   Gloucester's version has also recently started last year. 

Kim Hedges  
#9 Posted : 29 March 2020 16:54:43(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Kim Hedges

Originally Posted by: Roundtuit Go to Quoted Post
London's recycling?
  No, not recycling, just general waste. 

Items that are not separated cannot be recycled.  Similar to that debate about coffee cups, because they have a plastric film within, makes them non recyclable. 

Roundtuit  
#10 Posted : 29 March 2020 20:22:52(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Was referrring to councils somewhat less than accurate description about what happens to what goes in the various bins as it looks better on the council tax as recycling than "we just ship our waste to another county".

Many months ago China closed its borders to supposed plastic recycling.

Roundtuit  
#11 Posted : 29 March 2020 20:22:52(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Was referrring to councils somewhat less than accurate description about what happens to what goes in the various bins as it looks better on the council tax as recycling than "we just ship our waste to another county".

Many months ago China closed its borders to supposed plastic recycling.

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