The PSD Parliamentary Group questioned the Minister for the Environment and Climate Action on the practices of deposition of waste materials and personal protective equipment, for the purpose of preventing the contagion of the new coronavirus.

In the document, the Social Democrats state that, as far as the environment is concerned, the "COVID-19 pandemic represents an increased challenge for the waste sector, in particular, urban waste, more considering the advice of widespread use of masks of personal protection" and recall that they presented, on May 1, 2020, the Draft Resolution No. 417/XIV/1ª, which "recommends to the Government the creation and wide dissemination of a communication campaign aimed at raising the awareness of populations for the correct packaging and deposit of household waste". It turns out, however, that the Government, in particular the Ministry of Environment and Climate Action, "continues not to promote an effective campaign to raise awareness among populations about the correct use and deposit of masks, especially disposable ones" and the PSD considers that it is essential to "inform, train and clarify citizens – in a singular and collective way – so that the one that is the greatest challenge in history, at the level of public health, does not become one of the greatest, also, at the environmental level". The PSD questions:1 – What follow-up was followed up with Resolution of the Assembly of the Republic No. 30/2020 of May 28, 2020, which, having been unanimously approved in plenary, "Recommends that the Government promote good practices of deposition of waste of materials and equipment of individual protection, for the purpose of preventing the contagion of the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)"?2 – What did the Government do, since the beginning of the pandemic, in order to inform, clarify, sensitize the population – from citizens to businesses – about the personal protective equipment available, its characteristics and suitability to the different activities?3 – What will the Government do to encourage the use of reusable personal protective equipment, provided that they guarantee the appropriate safety conditions for their use in each of the various contexts?4 – What solution , in the immediate and long term, does the Government present to manage, mitigate and eliminate the environmental problem that this waste is creating?