AWARE that tons of used face shields might end up in garbage dumps and even in waterways now that their use has been declared as optional, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is plotting ways to recycle and make them useful again.
In a virtual press briefing, Undersecretary for Solid Waste Management (SWM) and Local Government Units Concerns Benny D. Antiporda called on the public to not just throw away the face shields anywhere.
Antiporda added thatface shields should be properly disposed so that they can be collected by garbage collectorsand bring them to proper recycling facilities.
"We will use recycling strategy to properly manage the disposal of face shields" said Antiporda.
He noted that recycled face shields can be turned into bricks to be used as construction materials.
Meanwhile, Crispin Lao vice-chair, National Solid Waste Management Commission advised the public that it would be better to just keep the face shields inside their houses.
But in case that the people wanted them to be disposed, then they should give tnem to garbage collectors for proper disposal.
According to Lao, face shields can also be used as construction materials and can also be recycled.
“We can recycle the face shield and it can be turned into construction materials," he said.