Garbage bins could fill up faster than usual, as Loraas is asking customers to throw out recyclables if a household member is sick. (battlefordsNOW Staff/Josh Ryan)

By Josh Ryan

If sick, don't recycle

Loraas asking households to dispose recyclables if members are sick

Apr 1, 2020 | 4:05 PM

Loraas is reminding customers of recently enacted safe waste disposal guidelines to prevent COVID-19 transmission.

In an attachment on the Loraas Environmental Services Ltd website, they list several measures for disposal and preparation of pickup for residential and commercial customers to adhere to. This includes disposing of recyclable items if a household member is sick, properly securing bags and not overflowing carts. Loraas’ statement emphasizes the guidelines are in place as a precautionary measure for their collectors and the general public.

“We’re very lucky, very fortunate and we appreciate people listening and following these new rules,” said Alexa Mofazelli, Loraas Digital Media Specialist, “it’s very important for us to keep our staff safe.”

The biggest change for residents is disposing recyclables due to in-house sickness. While there’s no definitive numbers for how long the virus can linger on surfaces, a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that COVID-19 can remain up to 24 hours on cardboard and 72 hours on stainless steel or plastic surfaces. It can also stay viable in the air for three hours.

Employees are utilizing protective equipment, however this step from the public further prevents the transmission from an individual item.

Riderville

Time to Exorcise Some Demons

20h ago

bravery

Sucker River woman called a true hero after rescuing boy from drowning

20h ago

Court proceedings

Not guilty pleas in Prince Albert bar brawl case

20h ago

“If it’s an item that you would normally put in the recycling bin, they’re asking that you put it in the garbage bin, just so that it protects their staff at their recycling facilities,” said Tammy MacCormack, Assistant Director of Utility Services for the city of North Battleford.

All garbage, including recyclable ones now being disposed, should be bagged before being closed off inside carts.

“Just to make sure that when it does get dumped at the waste management facility, we don’t have a lot of materials blowing around,” said MacCormack.

Another focus is proper distance for carts when they’re placed curbside. Loraas is asking for a minimum of four feet between each container for when trucks come to collect and will not pick up bags that are to the side of containers.

Imaging of proper distance and storage practices for garbage bins. (Submitted Photo/ Loraas)

“We want to make sure our drivers can quickly and easily pick up those karts without dropping them or tipping them or contaminating other people’s carts,” said Mofazzali.

Because there’s an increase in use of aerosol sprays and other cleaning products, Loraas is also reminding residents to keep those and other hazardous items separate. These pose a danger if they are sent to a compacter.

“Our household hazardous waste day is still planned to run in May and we would be able to accept anything like that at that day,” said MacCormack.

And while all residents should continue to practice safe disposal, households that don’t have a sick member are not expected to throw out recyclable items.

“You are welcome to continue to recycle as usual,” said Mofazzali, “there’s no changes there.”

—

josh.ryan@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports