LOCAL NEWS
Together We Can - more volunteers needed to help vulnerable residents BCP Council are appealing for more volunteers from across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole to support vulnerable residents needing help and support during the national lockdown and beyond. The council’s ‘Together We Can’ community support helpline has been stepped up following the announcement of lockdown and support is available for those residents who are isolated and need help and do not have friends or family nearby to assist. If you would like to offer your time and help or find out more information: Visit Community Action Network: www.can100.org Email: togetherwecan@can100.org Phone: 01202 466130.
As many as 143,000 disposable face masks are sent to landfill every single day in BCP Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is binning an incredible 143,262 disposable face masks every single day, according to waste firm Trade Waste, with reports that many face masks are being carelessly discarded in the street or ending up in streams and rivers. “If you walk around Bournemouth today you will see disposable face masks being blown around with leaves in the gutter – they are the new cigarette butt – people are simply chucking them after use. We know that as many as143,262 are being sent to landfill each day in the BCP area – but just how many end-up elsewhere is the scary part”, says Charlotte Green from Bournemouth waste company TradeWaste.co.uk Now that face mask wearing has become a standard part of lockdown life, their disposal is being highlighted as a major new environmental crisis, with masks being found in streams, rivers, and oceans – like the modern-day plastic bottle. Disposable face masks are typically made from plastic in 3 layers: • Non-woven plastic fabric outer • Melt-blown polymer filter such as polypropylene • Non-woven plastic fabric inner • Other – cotton ear loops and metal nose piece
and mask use continue. then “ Ifthisrestrictions issue is going to get progressively worse – action needs to be taken today ”
Charlotte Green from TradeWaste.co.uk
The other issue with a disposable mask are the ear loops and metal piece used to grip the nose. If these are discarded intact, they can become entangled around animals and wildlife, especially so when they end up in water courses.
The main problem is that they are specifically designed to be disposable. In a medical setting this is controlled, but out in our towns and cities it’s not. The result is thousands of masks entering the waste system One solution may be to purchase reusable masks and wash them regularly, Many retailers now stock reusable masks including most of the high street fashion chains, small independents and supermarkets.
A survey by Bournemouth waste company TradeWaste.co.uk found that the numbers of masks being discarded daily are truly staggering:
58.8 million
face masks are being used each day in the UK
53.3 million
face masks are sent to landfill each day in the UK
143,262
face masks are binned each day in Bournemouth
10% are reused, 90% are discarded Globally we use 129 billion face masks per month
BH Living | bhliving.co.uk
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