Fibre-based packaging company DS Smith has developed hygienic boxes to provide essential provisions and vital medications to those practicing social distancing or self-isolating during the Covid-19 outbreak.

The Waste Industry Safety and Health Forum (WISH) has published draft guidance on reducing the risks of Covid-19 transmission in a variety of waste management contexts.

With waste workers deemed ‘key workers’ and essential to keeping public services running, leading industry associations have raised concerns over how to keep waste operatives safe during the coronavirus outbreak.

A consortium of UK and Indian businesses and organisations has developed a new compostable film designed to reduce food and plastic waste backed by Innovate UK and coordinated by the Newton Fund.

The Recycling Association has asked Defra to ensure that household recycling collections are maintained to maintain sufficient availability of material for food and medical supply packaging.

The UK waste sector has issued a joint statement to the public urging residents to follow government advice on managing their household rubbish to minimise the spread of coronavirus to waste workers and warning of emergency service changes.

UK waste management companies are working up contingency plans to ensure that they are able to continue to provide waste services and keep their operatives safe during the coronavirus outbreak.

Ray Georgeson will take temporary charge of international waste management charity WasteAid once CEO Mike Webster leaves his post at the end of March.

Veolia and the trade union Unite have reached a settlement over unpaid holiday pay to refuse workers in Tower Hamlets to ensure streets are clean during the coronavirus crisis.

The Environmental Services Association (ESA) has welcomed the government’s “pragmatic” decision to suspend MOT testing for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs), including refuse collection vehicles, for three months during the coronavirus outbreak.