Concerns over spiralling household waste during the coronavirus
outbreak has prompted councils to issue a plea to residents to
minimise the rubbish they throw away and to avoid burning this on
bonfires.
The District Councils’ Network has concerns that a “wave of
waste” will emerge from households in the coming weeks, as
families generate more waste and recycling while rightly staying
safe at home and in some cases, as a result of having stocked up
with food and other goods they need.
It wants residents to work with their local council to best
manage bin collections.
This coincides with some councils having to reduce certain waste
services, such as garden waste collections, as a result of many
waste collection staff needing to self-isolate or to recover from
illness.
In some cases, councils have also closed recycling centres as
part of social distancing measures to discourage non-essential
travel.
DCN, which represents 191 district councils in England that are
responsible for collecting waste, is calling on residents to work
with their local council to manage “a perfect storm” of growing
levels of rubbish coinciding with challenges for councils in
collecting it.
It says that while many will be using the current period as an
opportunity to spring clean their home or do some gardening,
residents are asked to be mindful of how and where they dispose
of their waste.
Around the country waste collectors have been inundated with
positive messages of support from communities as they go about
collecting household waste.
District councils are now advising households to consider how
they can store waste or arrange for it to be safely collected
during the current restrictions, and is issuing the following
guidance to residents:-
- Contact your council to see if they are still operating paid
for bulky waste collection
- Private companies offer this as well but people need to check
any company they use is properly registered for handling waste by
the Environment Agency
- Try and compost any garden waste at home
- Cut down cardboard boxes so they can be put into the
appropriate recycling bin – this makes life much easier for waste
collection staff
- Store any excess waste from DIY projects, spring cleans or
garden waste at home until it can be disposed of safely and
legally
DCN is also urging residents against burning rubbish on bonfires,
especially hazardous waste, following a spate of incidents across
the country that contribute to air pollution and disturbance for
neighbours who may be self-isolating.
Cllr Dan Humphreys, DCN Lead Member for Enhancing Quality of
Life, said:
“These are challenging times for everyone in the country right
now, and all of our public services are being overstretched as a
result of the coronavirus crisis.
“While most of the nation is quite rightly in isolation,
and able to work from home, our refuse collectors continue to go
out to empty people’s bins and dispose of their waste.
“Alongside many other frontline services, the efforts of
our waste collection staff should be applauded, as they are
playing a key role in helping to keep the country running during
this difficult period.
“Make no mistake, councils and their contractors have plans
in place to try and ensure that everyone’s bins are collected.
“But we would ask the public to play their part, too. Where
possible we would ask residents to think twice about how much
waste is put out – such a small step could make a huge
difference.
“With millions safely staying at home, many producing more
waste than normal, and a risk that our waste collection workforce
suffers staff shortages, we have to be careful and prepared to
manage a potential wave of waste.
“Councils are doing all they can, and we want to thank the
public for helping us during this tricky period.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
The District Councils’ Network (DCN) is a cross-party member led
network providing a single voice to 191 district councils.
District councils in England deliver 86 out of 137 essential
local government services to over 22 million people – 40 per cent
of the population – and cover 68 per cent of the country by area.
They play a key role in local communities, providing services
such as building homes, collecting waste, regenerating town
centres, preventing homelessness, keeping streets clean and
maintaining parks.
ENDS
