Masks, gloves go in garbage, not recycling, cities tell residents

Several Ontario cities are reminding residents to throw their disposable masks, gloves and wipes in the garbage, not the recycling bin.

York Region — which includes Markham, Richmond Hill and Vaughan — said residents have increasingly been putting those items in their recycling or green bins since the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

The municipality said waste management staff have been finding more than 120,000 masks and gloves at their recycling sorting facility each month. It said that could put front-line workers at a higher risk of getting and spreading the coronavirus.

“They’re being exposed to these materials. Ultimately, we want to protect the health and safety of those workers,” said Laura McDowell, director of York Region’s environmental promotion and protection department. She said such items, which are now being used widely, contaminate batches of recycling that are sold to provide revenue for the region.

Starting Monday, York Region said waste workers will not empty blue bins with those items and will place a warning sticker on them.

Nearby Peel Region, which includes Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon, also urged residents to put such items in the garbage. “To help keep everyone safe, we encourage residents to double-bag personal protective equipment, including masks, before disposing of it in the garbage,” said Erwin Pascual, Peel Region’s waste program planning manager.