FOR RELEASE
Thursday 09 July 2020
Green Party Cllr Barry McKee has asked people to use reusable face coverings as masks become compulsory on public transport across Northern Ireland tomorrow (Friday 10 July).
Cllr McKee said: “Studies show that reusable, washable masks are effective and safe for people who need to use them in non-medical settings such as to the shops or on public transport.
“I’m concerned that single use disposable masks may be dumped on the streets, or binned to then end up in landfill as people come off buses or trains.
“I know that the vast majority of people are conscious of our environment and want to make the right choices, but I would urge Translink and the Department for Infrastructure to play their role in encouraging people to use reusable masks.
“Translink and the Department have been excellent at messaging the importance of wearing masks - we need to see a similar effort around the environmental impact of single use masks and encouraging reusable alternatives.”
ENDS
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