phs Group has launched a new service which will see COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as single-use masks, being managed safely amid warnings it is becoming a danger to ocean life.
PPE waste collected from phs PPE waste bins will be diverted from landfill and converted into energy, ensuring it is disposed of both responsibly and sustainably.
Campaigners are warning that single-use PPE has fast become the world’s latest plastic polluter – with nearly 200bn disposable masks and gloves used worldwide every month, resulting in widespread environmental contamination. With the majority of PPE made from plastics, those that end up at sea could take up to 450 years to decompose, ensnaring animals in the process.
The new PPE waste bin from phs was launched in response to this surge and the need for responsible disposal. As part of phs’ Lifecycle sustainable waste strategy, PPE waste is diverted from landfill to energy-from-waste plants across England and Wales, converting it into energy to power homes.
Paul Doble, Chief Commercial Officer of phs Group said: “While the pandemic has made PPE usage essential, what is not necessary is the burden this is placing on our planet. The rise in PPE plastic pollution has seen masks and gloves littering our streets, countryside and coasts posing a real danger to wildlife and the planet. But we can change this by ensuring safe, responsible and sustainable disposal. As leaders in sustainable waste management, we’re proud that our Lifecycle strategy is pioneering in how it converts PPE waste into energy, diverting it from landfill. It’s all part of our aspiration to do the right thing.”
