SCOTS are being urged to opt for reusable face coverings as the preferred method for covering the mouth and nose in the fight against Covid-19.
It is mandatory in Scotland to wear face coverings in places such as shops and public transport.
But while the widespread use is of value health-wise, there are now fears that the popular usage of disposable single-use masks is having a negative impact on the environment, with a recent spike in the presence of litter being observed on the country’s streets.
All disposable single-use face coverings and gloves cannot be recycled and should be placed in the general waste bin after use.
In order to combat the problem of increased waste, the Scottish Government and Zero Waste Scotland are championing the use of reusable face coverings like homemade and shop-bought masks, or items such as snoods.
These coverings, they say, should be at least two layers thick – preferably three.
It is also recommended that such coverings are made of cloth or other textiles through which people can breathe, and that they are washed on the highest setting suitable for the fabric after every use.
Iain Gulland, chief executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “At a time when we are trying to protect our health, we can also protect the environment.
“Littered face coverings are a needless recent blight on our streets and it’s a criminal offence to drop them.
“The Scottish Government advises that single-use and reusable coverings provide people with suitable protection.
“Having a face covering that can be used time and again uses fewer materials and is less likely to be discarded so easily.”
It comes as secondary school pupils are being advised to wear face coverings when moving around schools and on school transport from today.
Education Secretary John Swinney said last week that “young people over the age of 12 at secondary schools should be habitually wearing face coverings when they’re moving around schools and corridors and communal areas where it is difficult to deliver the physical distancing”.
Additionally, the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service is introducing face coverings as a safety measure as of today. People attending courts and tribunals are being asked to wear face coverings when entering and leaving the building, while moving around the building, or while waiting in communal areas such as reception points, witness rooms or outside a courtroom.
Details on how to make a reusable face covering can be found on the Scottish Government’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/watch?v=5RctqmSo2tU&list=PLC84BCE4C140DAB08&index=14&t=0s.
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