Common Questions About COVID-19 and Commercial Waste Collections
Are you interested in switching from a traditional commercial waste collection service to a more environmentally friendly service? If so, you aren’t alone. Nearly a quarter of UK businesses were closed during the Lockdown. Since then, the Government’s Covid-19 recovery strategy has catalysed a steady return to normality, including commercial waste collections. Markets, car showrooms, pubs, hairdressers, museums, and other businesses have opened. Therefore, the need for proper disposal of commercial waste and an interest in commercial waste charges has increased.
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COVID-19 and Commercial Waste: FAQD
The New York State Department of Health (NYSDH) recently issued updated interim COVID-19 testing and collection guidance. This guidance applies to all healthcare facilities and will be implemented by local health departments.
Here are some frequently asked questions about commercial waste collections:
What is the difference between solid and liquid commercial waste? What is considered hazardous?
Hazardous waste includes food, beverages, coffee grounds, filters, tea bags, cut flowers and herbs, and food-soiled paper. Commercial waste collectors know how to dispose of this waste properly.
Colour coded bins
Yellow
Red
Orange
Purple
White
Blue
Yellow & Black
Black
Infectious waste to be disposed of immediately
Anatomical waste (hazardous and non-hazardous)
Infectious waste which is sent for treatment
Cytostatic and cytotoxic medicinal products such as sharps
Dental waste
Medicinal waste such as part empty containers,out of date medicine etc
Non-infectious/hazardous hygiene waste
COVID-19 and Commercial Waste: Challenges
A recent report found that many commercial waste collection providers face logistical difficulties because of the coronavirus. Commercial waste collection itineraries must accommodate pre-planned disruptions and inaccessible routes while fulfilling daily duties as efficiently and effectively. For example, many businesses open or close on short notice, requiring last-minute reroutes and impacting adjacent businesses.
To avoid this, the industry has been working to implement new technologies and processes to help reduce the number of missed commercial waste collections. COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving disease whose impact on human health and the environment is yet to be fully understood. ACR+ conducted an extensive survey of local waste operators and municipal authorities to assess the impacts of the disease on waste systems, financial stability, and communication with users. Overall, municipal waste generation decreased in most cities and tourist areas, while waste sorting services were maintained or improved in many territories.
The survey also identified challenges in providing selective waste collection, a vital component of the H2020 COLLECTORS Guidelines . The report found that nearly two-thirds of respondents had suffered moderate to severe operational impacts caused by COVID-19, while fewer than 10 per cent reported no significant impact on their businesses. While many respondents expect revenue to decrease, a third expect the same or higher revenue as before COVID-19.
Some of the largest businesses have experienced revenue decreases, and fewer have seen their revenue increase. COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that poses significant challenges in household waste management. These new regulations disrupt the waste management system and chain. However, local authorities can minimise health risks and implement contingency plans to manage the disease. Using the new technology, local governments can reduce the number of employees required to handle biomedical commercial wastes properly. They can also reduce costs by implementing automatic processes requiring minimal human intervention.
COVID-19 and Commercial Waste: Costs
In May 2021, the cost tracker revealed that the total cost of the UK government’s measures to assist with covid-19 was estimated to be £372 billion , with £172 billion reported spent. The COVID-19 Considerations for London Borough commercial waste service reports, are valuable for planning. They provide detailed information and recommendations about many aspects of the commercial waste service, and the findings are beneficial for those involved in the commercial waste management industry.
COVID-19 and Commercial Waste: Recommendations
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought some lapses in the health, environmental, and socio-economic sectors.
The result of the pandemic has been a heightened concern for environmental sustainability and health outcomes.
Despite the growing environmental and social impacts, waste management should be considered a public service. Consequently, the COVID-19 pandemic has generated a surge in commercial waste.
In London, for instance, an increase in COVID-19-related plastic waste has led to a sixfold increase in overall medical waste.
COVID-19 and Commercial Waste: Regulatory Flexibility
While the EPA’s commercial solid waste sector goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by five million metric tons by 2020 equates to recycling two to three million tons of currently disposed of commercial solid waste, the regulation allows for flexibility in setting these goals. Considering the current recycling rate, this goal is relatively modest, but it allows businesses to expand their recycling programs or create new ones.
Most jurisdictions have existing programs to educate and monitor businesses and help them manage their waste. Recycling programs can also include information on where businesses can recycle. By including such information in commercial waste regulations, jurisdictions can make these programs cost-effective.
They can help businesses recycle and reduce their carbon footprint through education, outreach, and enforcement. A public hearing on commercial waste zones is necessary to assess the impact of these proposed regulations. After extensive stakeholder engagement and four years of studies, the city’s Department of Sanitation and the Business Integrity Commission has decided to implement this system. While the proposed regulations allow for regulatory flexibility, the results will likely be mixed. Whether or not commercial waste zones are successful depends on the number of businesses in the area.
COVID-19 and Commercial Waste – Learn more about UK business waste statistics here
Other useful links from our Commercial Waste Centre
Why Should Your Business Go Paperless?
Choosing a Garage Waste Management Service
Developing an EMS for Hazardous Waste
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