French MP Eric Pauget has introduced a bill to tackle the illegal dumping of used COVID-19 masks and gloves. If passed by the National Assembly, offenders could face €300 fines. With this behavior on the rise, Pauget urges a firm legislative response to protect public health and the environment.
As lockdown restrictions lift, discarded used masks are increasingly littering streets. Frustrated by this trend, LR Deputy Eric Pauget from Alpes-Maritimes' 7th district has tabled a bill. While general littering currently carries a €68 fine, his proposal raises it to €300 for masks and gloves.
In a May 18, 2020, Twitter post, Pauget called it "a nuisance, even pollution which constitutes a significant cost on many levels for the community." He highlights the infectious risks to pedestrians and waste sorters, advocating for strong laws against this growing issue.
Here is the proposed article on mask fines:
"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."
France 3 Regions reports that most abandoned masks are short-lived surgical types, lasting just hours in use but requiring 450 years to decompose in nature. This makes curbing such litter essential.
In mid-March, mask litter was already plaguing beaches in Chinese cities. NGO Oceans Asia found masks comprising a major share of waste on Hong Kong's Soko Islands since the COVID-19 outbreak.
