DENR: Dispose of masks, gloves properly

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has reminded the public to dispose of their masks and gloves properly by putting them into yellow bins, which will be distributed to barangays to serve as receptacles for these health-care waste. Benny Antiporda, undersecretary of the DENR, said the amount of household health-care waste had risen amid the pandemic, but these were not always disposed of properly. “They are thrown away indiscriminately,” Antiporda said at an online press briefing. This was why the DENR has started distributing yellow bins to barangays where these health-care waste could be placed. Antiporda reminded the public not to mix their discarded masks and gloves with regular household waste. “Otherwise we would be putting the lives of the garbage collectors at risk,” he added. —Leila B. Salaverria