Linen protection gloves, mostly from nitrile or vinyl, are used in many companies and other facilities, in food processing as well as in the chemical industry or in medical practices, hospitals and nursing services. The number of gloves to be disposed of in Germany goes into billions every year. No wonder, a nurse in the outpatient care area alone consumes around 50 pairs per shift.

In Corona pages has increased the consumption of gloves significantly again due to stricter hygiene regulations. This applies to even greater level of respiratory protection masks Or the mouth-nose protection. If the masks were previously only worn in a few industrial or medical areas as personal protective equipment (FFP1/2/3 masks) or as an operating room to reduce droplet infection, it now uses almost the entire population.

Both groups of articles together therefore ensure a huge garbage mountain. Dispose of gloves and masks: How is that done properly? In Germany, the district economy law (KRWG) generally ensures the legal framework for dealing with waste. The set of rules focuses on the personal responsibility of the waste producer, the measures of which in accordance with Section 6 are basically in the following ranking: 1. Avoidance, 2. Preparation for reuse, 3. Recycling, 4. Other recycling and 5th elimination.

The measure is intended to have priority that best guarantees the protection of people and the environment in the production and management of waste. At The method of choice is usually dangerous waste.

First of all, it must be clarified whether masks and one -off gloves represent dangerous waste and then whether they are recyclable. The European waste catalog (EAK) can be used to clarify the first question. Germany has implemented this in national law with the “Ordinance on the European Waste Directory (AVV)”.

Each type of waste receives a six -figure waste key in the EAK. Gloves and masks from the medical field receive the key 18 02 04 and are therefore classified as “not dangerous”. They should be in tear -resistant, moisture -resistant and dense containers to be collected and then burned. Gloves and mask disposal: You can also dispose of in private contexts in the residual waste become.

In the commercial area, it must be ensured whether the gloves with hazardous substances such as for example chemicals, oils or fats came into contact. Then the same regulation applies to you as to the hazardous substance itself. Otherwise, masks and gloves also belong to the residual waste. As a rule, both product groups are (yet) not recyclable. According to the “waste separation” initiative (operated by the dual systems of Germany), the plastics used in the gloves make it difficult to recycle other plastic packaging waste. The Experts recommend that masks and gloves, each also packed in plastic film, always put them in the residual waste.

The situation in Austria and Switzerland

The same framework conditions apply to both countries as in Germany. Both Austria and Switzerland have transferred the European waste list to national law.

In Austria this is the waste directory Ordinance, in Switzerland the “Swiss waste directory (with a few deviations on the European waste catalog). For example, the Federal Swiss Office of Health (BAG) also recommends disposal of masks and gloves in normal house or residual waste.

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Also worth reading and fitting: Our contribution to protective gloves – put on, undress and dispose of it properly

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