Public urged to dispose of face coverings and masks correctly

Members of the public are being urged to dispose of their face coverings and masks responsibly.

It comes after increased reports of masks being thrown on the floor.

Last week the RSPCA said that dumped face masks have become a new hazard to wildlife since the pandemic started.

The advice to snip the straps before masks are binned is given as new rules come into force in Wale stating that people must wear face masks in shops and other indoor public spaces, unless they have particular health conditions or are children under the age of 12.

People are being asked to use general waste bins or take masks home to dispose of safely.

They should be but into a plastic bag to avoid any further spread of the virus and your hands should be washed or sanitised straight after.

Cllr David A Bithell, Lead Member for the Environment said: “It’s really surprising that people are choosing to just throw their face masks or coverings away.

Not only is it littering but it’s putting others at risk of contamination.

“They’re not difficult to dispose of so please act responsibly and don’t discard them anywhere but in a bag then in a bin.