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Original poster

All the plastic!

29 replies

Annoy · 22/02/2021 20:03

I’m a teacher and have to do a lateral flow test once a week.

The kids also do one once a week too.

All I can think of when I do it is the bits of single use plastic.. testing kit, test tube, swab etc. And feel sad for our planet.

Is it just me?

OP posts:
Tal45 · 22/02/2021 20:10

What about all the single use masks and plastic aprons. This virus is an environmental disaster IMO :-(

scubadub · 22/02/2021 20:10

Yeah I work in pharmaceuticals and the plastic we get through is unbelievable. Your waste in the lateral flow test wouldn't even contend sadly enough. We fill about 8 bins, general, recyclable, flammable etc a DAY! For example, a bottle of IPA arrives into us in 3 plastic bags! We get through approx 4 bottles of IPA in 24 hours, and about 4 boxes of IPA wipes. We use plastic petri dishes with set agar...if I take out 2 and then the rest are left for 4 hours then they are thrown out. We use single use plastic pipettes which are individually wrapped in a plastic wrap. We take water samples daily (at least 7 separate samples) and these are taken in specific plastic bottles. Once they are tested they are thrown out. The world is truly f**d!!

Alleycat02 · 22/02/2021 20:49

Support staff in a secondary school here, I have also been horrified at the amount of plastic waste from carrying out the lateral flow tests!
I assist with processing the tests and have to change gloves between EACH test, the bins are overflowing....

Beccatheboo · 22/02/2021 20:51

Not just you, op - I’m horrified. And it seems as if mass testing is here to stay Sad

freezingcoldsnow · 22/02/2021 20:56

Every bin in my hospital is over flowing with paper masks, plastic visors, gloves and plastic aprons. I must change them about 10-15 times a day. It's awful.

herecomesthsun · 22/02/2021 21:19

While we have been shielding we have had supermarket deliveries. We couldn't reuse any plastic bags (they will eventually go for re-cycling but even so).

We also have the supermarket produce often turning up wrapped in plastic. And lots of plastic containers, from all the food, since we are all at home. The meat routinely comes in plastic boxes, we have a load of plastic mushroom containers etc.

It does make you think.

poppycat10 · 22/02/2021 21:20

Yes right from the outset there has been so much plastic waste.

bonbonours · 22/02/2021 21:24

Yes all the single use plastic is making me despair. In our secondary school they are giving 1000 pupils a wet wipe every lesson (so 6 times a day) to wipe the desk and chair. That's an insane amount of non recyclable waste just from one school.

TempsPerdu · 22/02/2021 21:25

No, not just you. The amount of waste this is generating is colossal. Have a little twinge of sadness every time I see a discarded mask on the ground, which is depressingly often.

Okbussitout · 22/02/2021 21:26

No it's not just you. But what do you suggest we do?

Original poster
Annoy · 23/02/2021 20:58

@Tal45

What about all the single use masks and plastic aprons. This virus is an environmental disaster IMO :-(
This too yes! The amount I see about as litter is awful. I live in an NP and it’s bad. I’d hate to see what a city looks like!
OP posts:
Original poster
Annoy · 23/02/2021 20:59

@scubadub

Yeah I work in pharmaceuticals and the plastic we get through is unbelievable. Your waste in the lateral flow test wouldn't even contend sadly enough. We fill about 8 bins, general, recyclable, flammable etc a DAY! For example, a bottle of IPA arrives into us in 3 plastic bags! We get through approx 4 bottles of IPA in 24 hours, and about 4 boxes of IPA wipes. We use plastic petri dishes with set agar...if I take out 2 and then the rest are left for 4 hours then they are thrown out. We use single use plastic pipettes which are individually wrapped in a plastic wrap. We take water samples daily (at least 7 separate samples) and these are taken in specific plastic bottles. Once they are tested they are thrown out. The world is truly f**d!!
This is so sad. It seems that whatever we do on the ground will make no difference unless the bigger influences step up!
OP posts:
Original poster
Annoy · 23/02/2021 21:01

@bonbonours

Yes all the single use plastic is making me despair. In our secondary school they are giving 1000 pupils a wet wipe every lesson (so 6 times a day) to wipe the desk and chair. That's an insane amount of non recyclable waste just from one school.
We’re a much smaller SEN school so we have a sanitising refill bottle and a cloth which we use regularly through the day. The staff do it.
OP posts:
Original poster
Annoy · 23/02/2021 21:04

@Okbussitout

No it's not just you. But what do you suggest we do?
I have no idea! I regularly collect litter in my area and dispose of it. But it’s not just what is being dropped.

I would love to come up with a solution, but all I can do is bring awareness.

We can’t even recycle/collect the tests in for projects as they’re contaminated!

OP posts:
FenceSplinters · 23/02/2021 21:06

Secondary school teacher here, and I’ve thought the same. We each get handed the stuff in a little sandwich bag too. It breaks my heart.

user1483558087 · 23/02/2021 21:12

I totally agree! Also a teacher and we do LFTs twice a week. Just did one this evening and commented to my husband about how awful all the plastic is.

Impy89 · 23/02/2021 22:03

I work in a nursing/residential home and currently we have to do lateral flow tests twice a week plus a normal one once a week. The amount of single use PPE is huge but what can we do?

I personally have chosen to reduce plastic use as much as I can at home instead to relieve my conscience.

lljkk · 23/02/2021 22:17

I was going to help with school LFTs in January so did all the training; also appalled by the plastic that we were supposed to use.

Covid is all that matters now. Not what I would vote to happen, but I don't decide things.

theconstantinoplegardener · 23/02/2021 22:59

I agree. It's even worse in hospitals - the amount of PPE each staff member gets through, even in non-covid times, is sobering. There has to be a better of doing this. I was wondering if aprons and some of the above packaging could be made of that potato-starch based material that is used for lining food waste caddies. It is at least compostable (although it would rely on people disposing of it correctly, and sufficient composting capacity locally).

Whatwouldscullydo · 23/02/2021 23:03

Not just you.

There are masks on the ground everywhere. I hate having to wear a new set of gloves every time I clean up after customers when we re opened and be same again when re re open.

Not to mention dickheads taking full advantage of no one being around so much and throwing their litter everywhere. There's poo bags in bushes and beer bottles and cans in ditches. Its fucking disgusting

crazyontheweekend · 23/02/2021 23:18

Not just you. I’ve thought exactly the same.

The world was too full of single use plastic before but the pandemic has made it much worse. I just don’t know what the solution is but I do feel as a pp who said nothing but Covid matters now.

We as a species are raping this planet 😞

ChocOrange1 · 24/02/2021 07:33

Makes me wonder why I bother with my bamboo toothbrush and recyclable wrapping paper.

MaggieFS · 24/02/2021 07:42

It makes me very sad. I remembered reading articles about how Covid has undone years of good work towards plastic and waste reduction so I just googled them to add a link here but it seems like they are all from last June! God knows how much worse the situation is now.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 24/02/2021 07:46

Hedges by the sides of roads seem to be permanently decorated with discarded face masks as well as takeaway cups.

FamilyOfAliens · 24/02/2021 07:50

I also worry about wildlife getting themselves caught in the elastic of the face masks so I always break the elastics before I put the mask in the bin. Small steps.