Jul 16th, 2020
4 mins
Updated 14/07/2020 – The department for environment, food & rural affairs (Defra) released information yesterday relevant for England on how to dispose of personal or business waste, including face coverings and personal protective equipment (PPE).
If you run a business or organisation
Read guidance for employers and businesses on working safely during coronavirus. You should:
- provide extra bins for your 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
You do not need to collect PPE separately but, if you do, you must describe and code your waste correctly. Ask your waste contractor if there is anything else you need to do. If your staff are using PPE at work to protect against risks other than coronavirus, they can throw it away in the usual way. You can put used disposable face coverings and PPE in an ‘offensive waste’ collection (yellow bags with a black stripe), if you have one. You may be able to use specialist PPE recycling services for some items. Ask your waste contractor.
Cleaning waste
If you’re producing additional waste because of extra cleaning of work-places, business premises and public places during coronavirus, you should dispose of this waste as normal. Put used cloths and wipes in the ‘black bag’ waste bin. You do not need to put them in an extra bag or store them for a time before throwing them away. If you’re managing a suspected or confirmed outbreak of coronavirus follow the guidance on cleaning non-healthcare settings. If you or a member of your household is self-isolating at home, follow the materials. To see the full guidance, please see below link:
