In Pics | Here's how you should dispose of used masks, gloves

As the world battles Covid-19, masks are being looked at as silent first armours against the onslaught of the deadly virus. While it is important to wear the right kind of masks, the correct usage and safe disposal need to be looked into as well.Here are certain ways to dispose of used masks safely as recommended by the Central Board of Pollution Control, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the World Health Organization.

For instance, as per World Health Organization, the use of masks or continuous use of a disposable mask for longer than 6 hours or repeated use of same mask may actually increase risk of getting an infection. Credit: PTI

Under the fresh guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), used masks & gloves from home quarantine or other households after keeping aside in paper bag for 72 hours are supposed to be cut into pieces to prevent re-use prior to handing over the same to waste collector of Urban Local Body as general solid waste.Credit: Reuters Photo

With the time frame set for different types of masks, disposal takes centre stage after their purpose is served. Credit: Reuters

In Covid-19 isolation wards, used masks, tissues and toiletries of the patient shall become biomedical waste and shall be segregated in yellow bags. The Common Bio-medical Waste Treatment and Disposal Facility (CBWTF) operator would then collect biomedical waste as and when it gets generated. Credit: Reuters Photo

Care takers of Covid-19 patients under home-care shall store the biomedical waste in yellow-coloured bag provided by Urban Local Body. General waste from home care or quarantine center or quarantine camp shall be handed over as solid waste to authorized waste collector of Urban Local Body (ULB - Municipal Corporation / Municipality). Credit: Reuters Photo

As per the World Health Organization guidelines, used mask should be considered as potentially infected. Masks used by patients / care givers/ close contacts during home care should be disinfected using ordinary bleach solution (5%) or sodium hypochlorite solution (1%) and then disposed of either by burning or deep burial. Credit: iStock Photo

Used masks from visitors to crematorium/ graveyards including crematorium staff should be collected in separate bins and stored for 72 hours prior to disposal as dry general solid waste through local bodies. Credit: PTI Photo