Reusable cups still safe, say experts as plastic waste rises
REUSABLE containers are safe to use during the pandemic “by employing basic hygiene”, according to more than 100 scientists, doctors and academics.
As long as they are thoroughly washed with soap and hot water, plastic Tupperware, reusable coffee cups and cutlery have a similar risk to their single-use alternatives, the experts said in a joint statement.
It comes after the plastics industry lobbied the EU to lift its ban on some single-use plastics because of the coronavirus crisis.
Starbucks, Caffè Nero and Pret A Manger coffee shops no longer issue reusable cups over hygiene concerns. The Government has also paused its ban on plastic straws and stirrers, citing the pressure on business.
The rise in personal protective equipment has also increased plastic waste globally, with masks and gloves finding their way into oceans.
In the statement, organised by Greenpeace, experts from 18 countries, said: “Reuse and refill systems are an essential part of addressing the plastic pollution crisis and moving away from a fossil-fuel-based economy. Based on the best available science and guidance from public health professionals, it is clear that reusable systems can be used safely by employing basic hygiene.”
They highlighted evidence suggesting the virus is spread mainly by inhaling aerosolised droplets, not by contact with contaminated surfaces, and said disposable products present similar issues to reusable ones because either could become contaminated.
They said cleaning in hot water with
‘We should attempt to avoid the overconsumption of single-use plastics, particularly in packaging’
soap or detergent is enough to reduce the risk, and that restaurants and cafés should use contact-free systems when customers bring their own containers.
Charlotte K Williams, professor of chemistry at Oxford University, and one of the statement signatories, said: “I hope we can come out of the Covid-19 crisis more determined than ever to solve the problems associated with plastics in the environment.
“In the public response to the crisis, we should attempt to avoid overconsumption of single-use plastics, particularly in applications like packaging.”