People are being warned to dispose of their gloves and masks properly as there has been a huge increase in illegal dumping of household waste across the capital.
The careless littering of masks and gloves has become a major and “challenging” issue across Dublin in recent weeks.
Illegal dumping rates are up by 25% in the city centre alone with cleaning crews having to deal with household clear-outs on the streets - one bizarre case seeing a bath dumped near Christchurch Cathedral.
The dumping of gloves and masks is also posing an immediate threat to workers who have to properly dispose of the items which may be contaminated by the virus.
Around the capital, there has been an increase in illegal burning as well as dumping of waste while people are also said to be driving to the countryside to get rid of black bags from their cars.
Simon Brock of Dublin City Council’s waste-management department has described the increase in illegal dumping as “disappointing and challenging” and has advised people to dispose of the items in a proper manner.
The topic of masks and gloves during this pandemic has popped up on several occasions with the HSE recently advising people not to wear disposable gloves when shopping or out and about.
Professor Martin Cormican, HSE National Lead for Antibiotic Resistance and Infection Control said that if gloves have the COVID-19 virus on them it can easily be spread to another person.
