Finished with your disposable face mask or rapid antigen test? Put them in the rubbish bin as neither can be recycled.

Ashburton District Council staff have noticed disposable masks being discarded in yellow recycling bins, and there's concern that rapid antigen tests (RATs) may also be incorrectly regarded as recyclable because they have plastic components.

Council Infrastructure Services Group Manager Neil McCann said there is only one place for disposable face masks, used RATs, disposable gloves, tissues and other personal protection items, and that is in a rubbish bin or red wheelie bin.

“We don’t want disposable face masks nor RATs contaminating our recycling, which can result in loads being rejected and taken to landfill.

"Our kerbside refuse collection contractor has noticed an increased number of disposable masks being put into recycling, alongside other common incorrect items such as disposable nappies.

“We have also noticed an increase in masks littering our footpaths and reserves, which is disappointing to see.”