Although almost two years have passed since the wearing of protective masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus became commonplace, some citizens have not yet learned to be careful where they throw the masks they have used. As a consequence, masks scattered on public areas have been a daily sight for the residents of Skopje for a long time. Thus, scattered protective masks can be seen everywhere in parks, on benches, in front of buildings, on sidewalks, and even in front of garbage cans, but rarely in garbage cans where they belong.

Exactly as a consequence of this irresponsible attitude of some citizens, the health of the seasonal workers in charge of maintaining hygiene in the settlements, the employees of the PE "Communal Hygiene", whose job is to clean the garbage, is exposed every day, but Of course, to passers-by, and especially to children, because no one knows if the masks that are scattered in this way were previously worn by a person who was ill with covid-19.

The Public Enterprise "Communal Hygiene" says that the situation on the ground has not changed at all, despite the fact that a long period has passed since the authorities indicated that it is necessary to wear protective masks. Numerous appeals for proper storage of used masks, and then their proper disposal, did not work for many, and at risk are virtually everyone who in one way or another comes in contact with improperly disposed of garbage of this type. .

-During the past two years, the teams of PE "Communal Hygiene" have faced a large amount of waste from protective masks and gloves that citizens throw on public areas or improperly packed and dumped in containers for municipal waste. The used protective masks are especially a potential source of infection and according to the epidemiological recommendations, this type of waste should be disposed of and neatly packed in double bags - explained by this public company.

Hence, they appeal to the residents of Skopje to freely dispose of the waste from the protective equipment in the containers placed on public areas, regardless of whether it is above-ground and underground containers, bins or trash cans.

-It is especially important that the used protective masks and gloves are disposed of properly and conscientiously and that they are properly packaged, in order to protect the health of the employees in the company, who come in daily contact with this potentially contaminated waste and also reduce the risk of spread of the covid-19 virus - say from the PE "Communal Hygiene".