Hyderabad: Firm introduces mask destroying machines in city

Hyderabad: Experts have been urging people not to throw used masks or dump them in dust bins as there is every chance of the coronavirus infection to others.

Sensing the requirement to safely dispose of them, a Hyderabad-based firm has developed Covid-19 mask destroying machines that will be pretty useful for companies and firms, office establishments and not to forget hospitals where a big workforce is present and they will be wearing masks regularly.

Amit Walia, proprietor of RK Industries, Moosapet stated that the mask destroyer developed by them can destroy a maximum of 10,000 face masks per day of any type (surgical, cloth, N 95 etc) in a matter of few minutes turning them into ash. And the electricity bill incurred is roughly one paise for one mask.

He said that masks have to be put in the machine in batches if the number is more. Fifty masks can be completely burnt in 7 minutes on this machine.

When asked what was the motivation to bring out this product, Amit said that they already make sanitiser pad burning machines and the new product was developed for safe disposal of masks.

The firm is reaching out or plans to reach out to government offices, gated communities, big apartments not to forget hospitals to explore their product. Already some of them have bought while others are showing interest in this new product.

If we talk about the main Covid -19 treatment hospital in Telangana-Gandhi where face masks and PPEs are being used regularly by all frontline healthcare professionals and workers, the disposal process is being handled by the biomedical waste disposal staff.

"Every day nearly 500 PPEs and 500 N 95 masks and hundreds of face masks are being kept in separate waste bags for that purpose and every few hours those bags are being lifted and fresh waste bags are being kept. They are being disposed of as per bio medical waste disposal norms," a senior official said. Government hospitals do not have any mask or PPE disposal or burning machines and they can be available only if the government procures them and distributes them to various state hospitals, the doctor said.