An MP recently tabled a bill aimed at combating the illegal dumping of used gloves and masks. If the National Assembly adopts this law, this kind of behavior could be worth a fine of 300 euros to offenders. The MEP believes that in the face of the resurgence of this bad behavior, it is incumbent on us to provide a strong legislative response.
With deconfinement, more and more used masks find themselves on the streets . Exasperated by this kind of behavior, the LR deputy for the 7th district of the Alpes-Maritimes, Eric Pauget, has tabled a bill. If today, abandoning waste in the street is punishable by a fine of 68 euros, this amount could be reassessed upwards for masks. The bill available on Eric Pauget's website thus suggests a fine of 300 euros.
In a post on Twitter on May 18, 2020, the MP refers to “a nuisance, even pollution which constitutes a significant cost on many levels for the community. » Eric Pauget also indicates that the abandonment of these many gloves and masks can represent an infectious risk , not only for pedestrians, but also for sorting agents. According to MP LR, it is incumbent on us to provide a strong legislative response to the growing number of abandonments of this type of waste.
Here is the article evoking the fine concerning the masks:
"Art.322-14- 1. - A fine of 300 euros is imposed for depositing, throwing or dumping, in a public place, except for locations designated for this purpose by the competent administrative authority, used protective masks and gloves used to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. »
Also reporting the news, France 3 Regions recalls that most of the abandoned masks are surgical masks that offer protection for only a few hours. And yet, these masks need 450 years to decompose in nature. Thus, this is an additional reason to stop these gestures devoid of all common sense.
In mid-March we were already talking about how the abandonment of masks of all kinds impacted the beaches of several Chinese cities. The NGO Oceans Asia was particularly interested in the case of Hong Kong, and more specifically in the Soko Islands. In this area, masks represent an important partof the waste found on the beaches since the appearance of the Covid-19 epidemic.
