Wearing and disposing of PPE
Published: 3 November 2020
As the country enters a second period of lockdown, it’s more important than ever that everyone follows advice on wearing and disposing of PPE.
Exeter residents should observe the following guidance when disposing of PPE, such as face coverings and gloves, during COVID-19:
If you ARE self-isolating:
- Place your disposable PPE inside two plastic bags and store it in your home for 72 hours before putting it in your black bin.
- It will be taken to Exeter’s Energy Recovery facility to be burned along with the rest of Exeter’s black bin and litter bin rubbish, preventing the chance of transmitting any infection to Exeter’s wider population.
If you are NOT self-isolating:
- Please make sure you put any used disposable face coverings or other PPE in your black bin at home or in a litter bin.
- You don’t need to put your PPE inside a bag or store it for any time before throwing it away. Just make sure it is secured in the bin and not accessible by wildlife.
Please DO NOT put any PPE in the recycling. Any recycling bins seen to contain PPE will not be emptied.
Wash your hands thoroughly after handling your PPE, or use hand sanitiser.
Cloth face coverings should be washed regularly, and the same precautions should be applied after handling them.
- While it is often necessary to use disposable PPE like gloves during the COVID-19 pandemic, ideally people should use cloth face coverings where they can to reduce waste and prevent littering.
- There are plenty of options available for buying ethical-fabric face coverings, or you could make one yourself from fabric offcuts or a worn-out shirt by following one of the multitude tutorials available online.
In order to help prevent the spread of the virus, it is vital that no-one litters their PPE.
- Littered PPE also poses a hazard to wildlife and pets, with animals becoming entangled in masks, etc..
Thank you – and stay safe!