Metro Vancouver warns locals that literring of gloves, face masks, and wipes puts neighbours and city workers at risk.
On Earth Day, April 22, the federation tweeted an image of everything that has to go in the garbage, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. In it, a glove, wipes and a face mask are shown beside a garbage can and above a message that reads: "Together we make our region strong."
The tweet also notes that residents should do their, "part and throw away all personal hygiene and cleaning products in a plastic bag and then garbage bin."
Littering of gloves, face masks & wipes puts your neighbours and your city workers at risk. Do your part and throw away all personal hygiene and cleaning products in a plastic bag and then garbage bin. #ppe #litter #gloves #masks pic.twitter.com/urFirhSrDD
— Metro Vancouver (@MetroVancouver) April 22, 2020
While the region has directed locals to properly dispose of personal protective equipment, a number of recent photographs show that not everyone is following the instruction.
Jennifer Clarke shared images taken at the Guilford Superstore on April 21 that she said was taken around 7 p.m. The four pictures show gloves and wipes strewn all over the parking lot. Clarke notes, "Do better" in her caption.
At Guildford superstore today, around 7pm. #wasthisyou #dobetter #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/eF3vBjNVoN
— jenniferclarke (@SurreyIMBY) April 22, 2020
People have been sharing multiple images of discarded personal protective equipment on social media, and sharing the disdain for the lack of care.
Earlier this month, Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart called out the new kind of litterbug after posting photographs on Facebook of surgical gloves randomly strewn on a road and at an underground parking lot. He even asked, “Perhaps a $10,000 fine would be in order for discarding used masks/gloves?”
Single-use face masks are also washing up on Hong Kong beaches, threatening marine life and raising questions about hygienic disposal of the masks, says a Saanich researcher in marine plastic pollution.
The COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in the widespread use of face masks in South East Asia, some of which have been improperly discarded, says Teale Phelps Bondaroff, director of research for OceansAsia, which investigates wildlife crimes with the aim of bringing those who destroy and pollute marine ecosystems to justice. “It really highlights the fact we are treating our oceans like garbage dumps.”
- With files from the Times Colonist.
