The Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT) has launched an online survey for local authorities across England to establish the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on waste and recycling services.

The Waste Industry Safety and Health Forum (WISH) has published draft guidance on reducing the risks of Covid-19 transmission in a variety of waste management contexts.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

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.

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.

Waste sector workers should be designated as “key workers” so that they can gain access to childcare and continue to perform vital waste service roles during the coronavirus outbreak, says the Environmental Services Association.

Local authority waste services would likely be stripped back in the event of mass illness amongst waste collection staff caused by coronavirus, but services are well prepared for eventual disruption, says Lee Marshall, CEO of LARAC.

As the coronavirus outbreak causes huge disruption, Robbie Staniforth, Head of Policy at Ecosurety, explores what this might mean for producer responsibility requirements in the coming year.