Stop the littering: Here’s the correct way to dispose of masks and gloves, experts say

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that Americans wear face masks to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, reversing an earlier directive against it.

Now, people across the country say they’re finding used masks as well as gloves and disinfectant wipes littering store parking lots.

Doctors say it’s not just annoying, it’s dangerous. Here’s why.

What’s Happening?

KPRC visited three grocery stores in Houston, including an H-E-B, and found discarded personal protection equipment in all three parking lots, the outlet reported.

“It’s very scary, it’s very stressful,” shopper Archie Lee told KPRC, adding that he shops with his family while wearing gloves and a mask, but brings a plastic bag in which to dispose of them.

A similar problem was reported at Trussville Crossings Shopping Center in Birmingham, Ala., with plastic gloves scattered throughout the parking lot, WBRC reported.

In New Jersey, discarded PPE have been found in gutters and on jogging paths as well as in parking lots at post offices and pharmacies, the Bergen Record reported.

“If I took pictures I’d have no room on my camera,” one man wrote on Facebook, according to the outlet.

Police in Parsippany, N.J., have even warned residents that those who improperly dispose of gloves and masks could face a fine of up to $500, the Record reported.

Why it’s dangerous

Doctors say littering isn’t just a nuisance — PPE that hasn’t been properly disposed of can cause the coronavirus to spread more easily.

“I would urge at this time it is not a good practice to leave litter around for other people to clean up,” Dr. Karen Landers, a medical officer with the Alabama Department of Public Health, told WBRC.

She explained that current guidelines do not require the use of gloves “because they create a false sense of security” and could easily spread the virus if not removed or discarded correctly, according to the outlet.

Isabel Valdez, a physician assistant at Baylor College of Medicine, sang a similar tune.

“We know these viruses can live in these surfaces anywhere between two hours to two days,” she told KPRC.

She recommends wiping gloves down with hand sanitizer before tossing them.

How to dispose of PPE safely

So what is the right way to dispose of masks, gloves and disinfectant wipes?

For one, put them in a trash can.

“Make sure to find your nearest trashcan,” Betsy Stewart with Main Street Family Care told WBRC. “I know Walmart and most places have trashcans at the exit. Or grab an extra grocery sack and discard your gloves in there so you can carry them home to throw away.”

How to safely remove gloves

When removing your gloves, the CDC reminds users that the outside is contaminated and recommends using one gloved hand to grab the palm of the other glove and peel it off.

Hold that glove while you slide fingers on your un-gloved hand under the remaining glove at the wrist to peel it off. Throw them both in the trash.

When you’re done, be sure to wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based sanitizer, the CDC says.

How to safely remove masks and respirators

Grab the bottom ties of your mask and then the ones at the top and remove the mask without touching the front, according to the CDC. Be sure not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth.

Throw it away then thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based sanitizer.

If you’re using a cloth mask, you can wash it in your washing machine, the CDC says.

This story was originally published April 7, 2020 at 12:22 PM with the headline "Stop the littering: Here’s the correct way to dispose of masks and gloves, experts say."