‘use common sense and be considerate with waste’
BINMEN STAY SAFE
KIRKLEES Council is asking residents to consider the people who deal with their waste during the coronavirus pandemic.
Council workers and contractors are still working to keep the streets clean and free of rubbish during this challenging time.
By the very nature of their job they are unable to work from home, which means they are more likely to come in contact with the virus.
Whilst the council is providing all the necessary equipment and doing everything they can to enable social distancing there will inevitably be people who need to self-isolate, which will put a strain on their collection crews and recycling facilities.
The council is asking residents to help keep everyone safe by following this advice:
Putting the right things in the right bin
The council has seen an increase in the amount of non-recyclable and potentially hazardous items being placed in green recycling bins.
Protective equipment such as overalls and masks should be placed in the household waste bin.
If you have come in contact with anyone who is ill or self-isolating, your overalls and masks should be doublebagged and not placed in the grey bin for 72 hours.
Double-bagging personal waste If you are ill or self-isolating, please double-bag any personal waste, for example tissues and anti-bacterial wipes. This waste should be kept separate from the rest of your rubbish and only put in the grey household bin after 72 hours.
Park sensibly on collection days As more people are staying at home there are more cars on our residential streets. Bin wagons are large and difficult to manoeuvre – please leave room for them to get down your street and if necessary turn around.
Washing your hands before and after touching your bin or rubbish bags
We should all be washing our hands more often, and especially before and after touching something that other people might touch. By washing your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water before and after handling waste containers, you can help keep your family and the refuse workers safe.
Being responsible with your waste
The council understands that closing the household waste sites means you might want to contact a professional to take your waste away, however it is essential that you only use a registered waste carrier.
Ask to see their licence before you agree to hand over your waste. If you don’t and your waste ends up fly-tipped you could end up with a big fine.
Reduce and reuse as much as possible
The council is aiming to keep collections running for as long as possible but now is a good time to start teducing how much waste you create and how much you throw away.
There are lots of ideas online, and the council will be sharing some on their waste and recycling bulletin over the coming weeks too. You can sign up to receive these at www.kirklees. gov.uk/stayconnected
Clr Rob Walker, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “I’d like to thank our refuse collection teams, and the people working at the recycling facility for their hard work and dedication in these difficult times.
“They like many key workers are putting the good of the many above the their own needs on a daily basis. Please respect the work they are doing by placing things in the correct bin. The recycling bins are sorted by hand and placing potentially hazardous items in with the recycling puts people at completely unnecessary risk, you wouldn’t put your family in that position so please don’t do it to someone else.”
Clr Naheed Mather, Cabinet member for Green Kirklees, said: “By working together at this difficult time we can make sure our streets stay clean and our countryside green, so when we come out of this crisis we can all enjoy it.
“I urge people to be responsible when disposing of their waste. There are people who will take advantage of this situation for their own personal gain, but by following the advice you can stop that happening and help keep yours and other people’s loved ones safe.”