COUNCILS are asking members of the public to wear reusable face masks where possible in a bid to cut increasing levels of such litter being found on the streets.

One Teesside council worker, who does not wish to be named, said environmental teams were picking up more than 50 discarded face masks a day since the coronavirus outbreak made wearing them commonplace.

While some face coverings are intended to be washed and re-worn, some are intended as single-use and encourage the user to dispose of them once worn.

The council worker said: “The environmental team of the council are sick to death of seeing contaminated masks being deposited on pavements and even in care home grounds, potentially spreading the virus further.”

A Middlesbrough Council spokesman said: “Discarded face coverings are a widespread issue and are dealt with by our streetscene operatives alongside general litter.

“We would urge people to dispose of all waste in a safe and responsible manner and where possible to wear reusable face coverings.”

Councillor Barry Hunt, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and the environment at Redcar and Cleveland Council, said the public needed to “do their bit” to combat the problem.

He said: “As a council we have seen an increase of face masks littering locally and are aware that this has been a problem up and down the country.

“Our streetscene staff, with help from local volunteers and community groups, have worked extremely hard this year to keep our coastlines and countryside as tidy as possible and we must all do our bit to protect our environment and wildlife.

“People should not drop litter of any sort.”

Councillor Mike Smith, Stockton Council’s cabinet member for environment and transport, said its street cleansing staff were also dealing with instances of face masks being discarded irresponsibly.

He added: “Our care for your area staff are working extremely hard throughout this pandemic to ensure that our streets, paths, roads and open spaces remain clean and safe for our residents and businesses, so please help them if you can.”

Face coverings are largely intended to protect others – not the wearer – against the spread of infection because they cover the nose and mouth, which are the main confirmed sources of transmission of the virus that causes coronavirus.

Face mask wearing was made mandatory in shops and other indoor settings in England earlier this year, although children under the age of 11 and some other categories of people are exempt.

The Government advises that single-use face coverings should be disposed of carefully in a residual waste bin and not recycled.

Last month the Marine Conservation Society said discarded face masks along with disposable gloves had found their way onto a third of beaches covered by its Great British Beach Clean event.

It warned fish and other marine animals could mistake the items for food or became ensnared in mask straps.