A campaign aimed at ensuring people do not seek shelter in waste containers has been relaunched by B&M Waste Services ahead of the busy Christmas period.
With winter fast approaching, the Wirral-based recycling business has revisited its ‘Refuse Not Refuge’ initiative for a third consecutive year in a bid to boost safety on the streets of Britain.
B&M Waste began stickering its bins to warn people against sleeping in bins in 2014
People who sleep rough often choose trade waste bins to keep themselves warm and dry during the winter nights – but when the containers are emptied their lives are placed in danger.
There have been a number of reported deaths by tipping in recent years, with Christmas party revellers also putting themselves at risk.
A key study into the behaviour pattern, published over two years ago by Biffa, CIWM and charity Streetlink, found that 38% of people sleeping in bins were only discovered by waste collection crews during the lifting operation, while 16% were only exposed after being tipped out (see letsrecycle.com story).
B&M first set up the campaign in partnership with charity Shelter in the winter of 2013/14, in a bid to draw attention to the issue. The company raised money to support the charity by donating £1 for each of its FEL containers in operation across the North West of England.
Training
A ‘rigorous’ staff training and refresher programme to remind drivers to check every container before it is emptied has also been established according to B&M.
The company also ensures its largest bins are clearly stickered to warn people from sleeping inside them – and is looking to partner with customers in the North West area to reinforce the message.
David Curtis, director at B&M Waste Services, said: “A recent study conducted in partnership with Streetlink indicated that it’s not only homeless people but also drunken students and party goers who sleep in bins, a massive 11%.
“This is why we are working with our customers, particularly Universities, Colleges and Retail Parks to apply best practice in reducing this risk through raising awareness of the problem.”
Awareness
B&M customers are being asked to assist in raising awareness by displaying the posters around their site and mentioning the campaign on social media tagging @bagnallmorris and #refusenotrefuge.
The post B&M Waste warns against rough sleeping in bins appeared first on letsrecycle.com.
Source: letsrecycle.com General
