How many Masks..?

alecalexandrou

How many masks have you used and thrown away since all this stuff started.
I reckon I have used about 200 so far.
4 boxes.
Should they go to landfill, or in the recycle bin?
Are the disposable ones paper or cloth?

jt_21

alecalexandrou
Box of 50, I have used ONE, (for the dentist visit)…..

For everyday it’s just normal face covering in enclosed spaces since lockdown, Box of 50 was expensive 3 ply surgical IIR MASKS, not great for the environment so personally will use in ‘certain Heath care settings’ (though I know it’s not essential to as face coverings are fine)

they need go into the household bin NOT the recycle bin

mxrider66

alecalexandrou I have used one once

mrbond007

alecalexandrou
The joke is of course they should be disposed of in a medical waste bin but none are so if they have been infected it’s easily spread.
So are they helping

frenchielove

alecalexandrou havent thrown any away all mine are washable

bvbc

alecalexandrou Using home made mask.

glitterykittee

alecalexandrou I have a box of 50 but have only used my washable one so far. I don’t go out often.

knotquitetoplan

alecalexandrou one washable cyclists tube

justeena1

alecalexandrou i use every Saturday a new mask

caro120

alecalexandrou

even paper probably got plastic in it, is probably yet another environmental nightmare

gets me when see them on the ground, not very nice for someone to have to pick up… how can someone not know have dropped it or is it the new litter?

i just got couple cotton ones.. wash them each time though hubs reckons if just tipped alcohol over them they could be reused once it had evaporated.. can get bottles of methanol i think but it’s expensive… not sure about vodka, think is only 37 proof, not pure enough, dunno…

chaaaan

alecalexandrou More than 20

basil1921

alecalexandrou Just a few. I’m still trying to decide whether to buy a couple of washable ones.

bazthebear2

alecalexandrou She has 2 cloth ones and keeps washing them.

janny27

alecalexandrou
I use three layer washable ones made by my daughter, they are perfect and fit nicely just under my glasses so they don’t steam up. I do have a pack of disposable ones to hand but yes it would be great if these could go in the recycle bin.

suzydod

alecalexandrou I have reusable ones we have 8 between family of 4 kids like to wear one even though they don’t have to

pw6049

alecalexandrou none I’ve made my own out of some old clean underpants

darren1900

alecalexandrou none we are using washable one’s

pmaine

alecalexandrou none as my wife has made some

titan2019

alecalexandrou
I have a box of 50. Only used 1 so far but we are not going out. Can not see a end to it personally.
Cheers

caro120

jt_21

hubs uses disposables and mostly for shopping.. we try to get it all online as far as possible.

alecalexandrou

mrbond007

That is in fact the point.
In hospital and healthcare environments they do have specific bins for them to be disposed in.
Of course people put other rubbish in there as well, but at least the masks and anything they are contaminated with will get incinerated.

Should we be putting them in the bin at home or the recycle bin.
I think of course not to put in the recycle bin at least, but some people do, as they think they are saving the planet.

So they should be okay in the normal bin for landfill.
Unless it is one of the many people that just abandon them on the pavement because they do not care about anyone else.

caro120

mrbond007

dunno how long virus would be live.. think said with clothing is 24 hours and hard surfaces is it up to 3 days… depends on temp and humidity i should think…

haven’t seen so many spitting on the ground so that good..

found a pic of betel nut spit up london i think, alleyway, looked like blood… that’s got to be pretty ill advised at mo, think people chew it for caffeine or some stimulant in it?

here it is, nope was leicester

alecalexandrou

frenchielove
That is probably
best, but I have some kind of uncomfortable feeling about wearing a mask which potentially has been contaminated, and then taking it home with me in order to wash.
I am sure you do not do a wash just for the mask, so it festers in your house for longer.
Easier to use and dispose.

frenchielove

alecalexandrou I am more leaning towards the washable for lots of reasons, I have a good few so can alternate and they are kinder to my face, I have a problem breathing so anything that can help, I am sure they will tell us it was all a waste of time, one day

wagstaffes

alecalexandrou I only use the reusable ones as it worries me all the disposable ones going in landfill. I just wash it thoroughly at the bathroom sink with hand soap when I get in, rinse and then put it on a clothes airer to dry. The hand soap is sufficient to kill the virus, you don’t need the washing machine.

davek89

If you’re using a disposable, fluid resistant surgical mask (like the ones they sell in boots), then they are not recyclable. Ideally, they would be disposed of as clinical waste (and in hospitals and other healthcare settings they are), however disposing of them as household waste should be fine given the relatively low risks involved.

funnymarv

I’ve used about 5 of those ones . But I also have reusable ones

msmon55

caro120 needs to be at least 65% alcohol to kill virus.

jt_21

caro120 I will look online if I need more, just worried about the quality (read some horror stories that some are not quite up to standards e.g. Straps breaking, not passing quality control) ok for supplies at the minute and have given some small bundles away to friends/family who need them, purchased when the price was ‘high-ish’ when I bought, think the price is coming down now. Yes, it annoys me too to see discarded masks and those damn blue gloves littered everywhere, including the supermarket trolley!! 🛒 I do sometimes wonder what is wrong with people?!