There is evidence across the UK that waste services may be beginning to stabilise after a challenging time so far during the coronavirus pandemic.
Some halted waste services are resuming, and local authorities are finding new ways to operate services that were previously restricted.
Some businesses in the waste sector have even seen an increase in demand as people hire at-home skips following HWRC closures.
Merseyside
Merseyside residents will be able use their HWRCs again
One authority reopening sites is Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA). The authority’s recycling centres closed across the UK on 24 March following non-essential travel restrictions and social distancing rules; DEFRA have now encouraged councils to re-open them if social distancing measures can be adhered to.
The MRWA, along with its contractor Veolia, will be implementing clear operation guidelines with respect of social distancing for the reopened sites.
City council mayor, Joe Anderson said: “I commend the decision to open the sites with social distancing, we are doing this to avoid waste becoming a problem at home. Please only travel if it is essential and follow the instructions given to you by staff on site.”
However, recycling centres throughout the UK mostly remain closed.
Dorset
On the collection front, green waste has been the most challenging of services. Now there are some signs of reopening. Dorset council had suspended all garden waste collections on 27 March but they resumed the service this week on Monday 27 April.
Cllr Tony Alford, portfolio holder for community services at Dorset council, said: “We appreciate how much our customers value the garden waste service and welcome this opportunity to resume kerbside collections, especially as the household recycling centres have to remain closed.”
Edinburgh
In other collection service positives, Edinburgh council is resuming kerbside glass collections “following the return of several team members as well as the bedding in of new collection arrangements”.
Waste workers will re-start the collection of blue boxes for glass recycling from 28 April, returning to the usual fortnightly collection schedules. The service stopped in March to help prioritise residual waste collections.
Council leader Adam McVey said: “We’ve been working extremely hard to deliver essential services with as little disruption as possible during this challenging time, so I’m pleased that we’ll be able to reintroduce these collections after a short break.
“It’s with thanks to the hard work and dedication of crews that we can do this, as well as continuing normal collections for most bins, so I’d like to recognise their effort over recent weeks. This contribution has been crucial to keeping the city moving and helping residents to adjust to this unprecedented situation.”
NWH Group
NWH Group has seen an upturn in parts of its business
Scotland and north east England business, NWH Group is an example of the skip hire sector being in demand for household services. It has reported a “record 60% increase in domestic skip users” following its decision to temporarily close at the end of March.
The increase in demand for home skips has meant that NWH has been able to un-furlough nine members of staff. According to CEO Mark Williams, despite the remaining issues with fly-tipping, the increase in skip usage around the UK shows that people are using their time constructively and being responsible with their waste disposal.
Mr Williams said: “We are aware the public services are stretched in many cities throughout the UK and in order to best support our communities whilst councils are overwhelmed with additional domestic waste production, we have been able to respond with additional collections and the provision of skip hire.”
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
