THE Municipal Government of Consolacion, Cebu plans to implement a measure that will penalize residents who improperly dispose of their masks.
Consolacion Mayor Joannes Alegado said he has asked the Municipal Council to pass an ordinance to help remind his constituents to not dispose of their masks just anywhere.
Alegado, who is a doctor by profession, said with his town now having its own Covid-19 cases, it was expected that more of his constituents would be buying masks and other protective equipment to protect themselves from infection.
But he also feared that the improper disposal of masks and other protective equipment could lead to more infections.
Alegado said: “Since we shifted to general community quarantine (GCQ) two weeks ago, a lot of our residents have been using masks. Even street dwellers are using masks. But I’ve noticed often that some would just throw their masks indiscriminately on the street. While some would dispose of their used masks properly, they shouldn’t mix them with their garbage.”
Alegado said some of their garbage collectors would often find not just masks, but even face shields, goggles and other protective equipment after collecting the town’s waste.
Consolacion has an estimated 5,000 workers living in the town, with most of them always wearing masks whenever they go to work, Alegado said.
Due to this, Alegado urged his constituents to provide a separate receptacle for their disposable masks.
By providing a separate receptacle that is not prone to contamination, residents will not only protect themselves from infection but their garbage collectors as well, he said.
Penalties will include paying a maximum fine of P2,000.
Meanwhile, the Mandaue City Council requested the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) to conduct a city-wide information dissemination on the proper disposal of single-use personal protective equipment (PPEs).
City Councilor Joel Seno authored the resolution to tackle the issue. It was approved by the council during its 57th regular session on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020.
For Seno, the matter was neglected considering the mandate implemented in the city on the wearing of masks and other protective equipment.
Mandaue City has implemented the city ordinance imposing the wearing of masks in public places. Violators face a fine of P5,000.
Now it is considered a health issue but sooner or later it will become an environmental issue, particularly on the usage of disposable or single-use equipment, said Seno.
His resolution states that improper disposal of these kinds of wastes poses threats to other people’s health.
In addition, information dissemination is vital in educating the public on the proper disposal of disposable masks, tissues, wipes, gloves and other potentially infectious waste of PPEs to prevent collateral damage to other people and to the environment.
Environmental issues like an increase in plastic trash and harmful pollutants are likely to develop.
Since wearing protective equipment is part of the established health protocol, the resolution seeks equal importance for the proper disposal of PPEs.
Seno said face masks are thrown in public waste containers. It’s not only happening in Mandaue City but in other local government units as well.
The information dissemination will be in accordance with guidelines and public advisories issued by the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources through the Environment Management Bureau.
In a text message, Cenro head Araceli Barlam said: “Although I think a resolution on that matter is very important, I have yet to receive a copy of the document. Till then, I will have to hold off any comments.”
In an interview with Marivic Cabigas, head of the Department of General and Services, she said she still has to coordinate with the “Clean and Green” personnel in monitoring the disposal of PPEs. (ANV / KFD)