Orange bins mushroom in Bangkok as 3rd wave brings tide of used masks
Bangkok will deploy another 1,000 biohazard garbage bins across the city after used masks and other medical waste generated by the third Covid-19 wave increased to 20 tonnes per day.
“The bins for used face masks will be coloured in orange while the garbage bags for medical waste are red to indicate it needs to be disposed of properly,” said Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang on Wednesday.
“These bins will be placed at district offices, health service centres, hospitals, city halls, schools, sport centres, youth centres, fire stations, public parks, markets and in front of shopping malls.”
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration also urged people to separate used face masks from other household waste by sealing them in a marked bag and placing them in an orange bin.
Bangkok is one of 63 high-infection provinces where mask-wearing in public is now mandatory, with violation penalised by a THB20,000 fine.
On Wednesday the capital reported 830 new infections, taking the cumulative caseload since April 1 to 10,899.
