Municipal waste management and COVID-19 - Phase 1

The first hours of the pandemic of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, forced public authorities and municipal waste operators to rapidly adapt their waste management systems and procedures to take into consideration elements such as safety and health measures for employees, waste treatment requirements, general procedures due to coronavirus for waste sector, staff availability, etc.

To reply to requests from its members, ACR+ gathered data on the different systems and solutions implemented across Europe to manage municipal waste in what can be called a first phase during which most territories experienced lockdowns or similar situations (covering the months of March and April 2020 for most countries included below). It has to be noted that situations are diverse and dependent on the national and local constraints as well as means available. As the pandemic is evolving and the situation moving to what could be called a second phase, the collection of practices linked to the first phase stopped in May 2020. The list below is thus offering an overview of which types of measures have been taken by the different actors at a certain time (mainly at the height of the pandemic) and does not reflect the current situation.

A synthesis is available in the infograph below which summarizes the observed trends regarding municipal waste management during the COVID-19 crisis in March 2020.

As the lockdown or other restrictive measures are progressively lifted, a second phase is starting and new challenges are appearing. ACR+ continues to gather data during this phase, making them available online.

Note: the information on national, regional and local practices has been published as we received it, with the addition of the necessary sources and small edition when needed. Translations were made by our team and are not under the responsibility of the issuing authority or organisation. We thank all our contributors.

(click on the picture to enlarge it or download it as a pdf)

{tab International}

International

21/05: UN-Habitat has launched a 10 point strategy guideline to support cities in developing and updating their waste management plan to address the COVID-19 situation.

Source: UN-Habitat

13/05: a note by the OECD (regularly updated) - Cities Policy Responses - providing examples of measures taken by cities to respond to the current coronavirus epidemic, clustered around six categories: i) communication and awareness raising, ii) workplace and commuting; iii) social distance; iv) vulnerable groups; v) local service delivery; and vi) support to business. A section of part v is dedicated to waste management. It states that all cities guarantee waste collection, but not necessarily separated for specific types of waste. In addition, some recycling centres have been closed. Public health agencies recommend that all waste that has been in contact with any self-isolated individual should be double-bagged and tied to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Several examples are given in a side-box. Click here for the version of 13 May in pdf.

Source: OECD

11/05: the Pan American Health Organisation published a technical note with recommendations for handling solid waste correctly to minimize possible secondary impacts on health and the environment. The note covers safe management measures for personnel, transportation of common waste, final disposal services of waste, special considerations for the handling of waste from health facilities to be treated outside the facility, and waste management in homes.

Source: PAN

24/03: noting that the COVID-19 pandemic is continuing to spread and its impacts upon human health and the economy intensifying day-by-day, the UN Environment Programme urges governments to treat waste management, including of medical, household and other hazardous waste, as an urgent and essential public service in order to minimise possible secondary impacts upon health and the environment.

Source: UN Environment Programme

20/03: WIEGO (Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing) issues recommendations for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 among solid waste workers. The purpose of the document is to guide urban cleaning services and responsible agencies, as well as outsourced companies and informal waste pickers working from sorting centers1 who work with solid waste. It provides specific guidelines for waste pickers on how to protect themselves against exposure to the coronavirus associated with their waste collection work.

WIEGO also provides an overview of what waste picker organizations are doing and offers resources on how to decrease risks.

Source: WIEGO

 {tab European Union}

European Union

• Waste management in the context of the coronavirus crisis

14/04: publication by DG ENV of "Waste management in the context of the coronavirus crisis", based on inputs received from Member States, stakeholders and other services of the European Commission. The document provides guidance, with a view to ensuring a high level of protection of human health and the environment, while preventing and reducing disruptions in the provision of proper waste management services. It takes stock of the current situation across the EU and is based on the available scientific knowledge, with the support of the European Centre for Disease prevention and Control. The document will be kept updated in view of the evolution of the knowledge about the virus as well as its spread and the feedbacks we receive from Member States and stakeholders.

Regarding the management of municipal waste, it indicates that the "overall continuity of proper municipal waste management services, including separate collection and recycling, is to be safeguarded in line with EU law". It specifies that in case the service has to be reduced, the continuity and sufficient frequency of collection of residual waste and bio-waste should be ensured.

Source: European Commission

• Infection prevention and control in the household management of people with suspected or confirmed coronavirus disease

31/03: publication by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control of a document providing guidance on infection prevention and control (IPC) measures for people with suspected or confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) who are experiencing mild symptoms that do not require hospitalisation, therefore self-isolating at home.

The recommendations regarding household waste management are the following:

• An individual waste bag should be placed in the patient’s room.
• Paper tissues and face masks used by the patient should be immediately put in the waste bag that was placed in the patient’s room.
• Gloves and face masks used by the caretaker and by the cleaner should be immediately put in a second waste bag, placed near the door to the patient’s room, when the caretaker or cleaner leave.
• The waste bags should be closed before they are removed from the patient’s room and replaced frequently; they should never be emptied in another bag.
• These waste bags can be collected together and placed in a clean general garbage bag; the closed patient waste bags can be put directly in the unsorted garbage. No special collection activity or other disposal method is necessary.
• After handling wastebags, strict hand hygiene should be performed: use water and soap or alcohol-based hand disinfectants.

Source: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

• Shipments of waste in the EU in the context of the Coronavirus crisis

30/03: guidance document of the European Commission aiming to ensure a common approach to securing the continuation of waste shipments across the EU while maintaining a high level of protection of public health and the environment. In this document, the Commission asks that "all Member States fully implement to waste shipments the recommendations on ensuring that all freight gets quickly to its destination without any delays and in particular to ensure that waste shipments have access to the ‘green lane’ border crossings."

Source: European Commission

 {tab Austria}

Austria

• Upper Austria

20/03: citizens in Upper Austria are asked to reduce waste generation and source separating it as much as possible. The aim is to prevent overloading the waste system. Citezens are requested to observe protective measures for waste disposal such as keeping a distance of at least one meter from all other people (with the waste bins in residential complexes as well as with waste containers) when disposing of their waste.

Waste from Corona-infected households that may be contaminated with the corona virus should be disposed of with the residual waste, taking certain precautions. The separate collection through paper bin, bio bin, yellow sack is interrupted. As before, only glass waste can be disposed of separately. The waste produced by infected or suspected of being infected people that may be contaminated with secretions (e.g. paper tissues, mouse and nose protection, yogurt cups..) should be put in smaller tearproof plastic bags, closed tightly and disposed of in the residual waste collection container. These containers are emptied as usual. Residual waste is thermally treated in incineration plants in Upper Austria at temperatures up to 1,000 degrees.

Other households should dispose of their waste as before, source separating it carefully (following a number of given instructions).

Source: Land Oberösterreich

• Land Salzburg
  

03/04: in households where infected people reside, the residual waste has to be collected in small portions in tear-resistant plastic garbage bags, sealed, and thus disposed of in the available residual waste collection containers. The tightly closed garbage bags are to be disposed of in the respective available waste collection containers which are emptied as usual

Source: Land Salzburg

• Vienna

April: In Vienna, the main focus during the Covid19 crisis is to keep the waste collection services running. As Waste Management Services in Vienna are provided by the Municipality, along with other essential services such as Street Sweeping or Winter Service, a large pool of manpower is available in order to keep up the most pressing services.

The collection of residual waste as well as the collection of recyclables (glass, metal, plastic bottles, beverage cartons, paper waste and garden waste) is continued as usual. The employees start in three different shifts in order to keep social contacts in the common rooms at a minimum. Other collection services, such as the collection of hazardous waste from households are currently on hold.

More details are given in a brief prepared by a representative of Vienna municipality.

In addition to the usual waste prevention measures, additional tips on how to avoid unecessary waste generation are offered to citizens online.

{tab Belgium}

Belgium

• Brussels-Capital Region

01/04: a circular of the government of Brussels-Capital Region  related to the consequences of the COVID-19 crisis on waste collection and management services, in particular linked to staff shortages. Noting that door-to-door collection is reducing contacts between citizens, this collection method together with bring-banks is prioritised compared to collection in sorting centres and directly in re-use centre or second-hand shops. After some disturbances, recyclable waste (paper, carboard, metal and plastic packaging) is again selectively collected. The opening times of civic amenity sites have been reduced (and citizens invited to keep their waste at home) but there are still open as well as collection points for batteries, used oils, WEEE, and hazardous waste. Regarding collection on the public space, it is a priority to empty underground containers, textile containers and other public bins. Measures regarding health and protection of workers are indicated, following the Belgium Health Institute and the national law.

Amongst the recommendations to be communicated to citizens, it is stated that all the recommendations regarding zero waste are even more important in this time of staff shortage, following the temporary rules applied by businesses. Citizens are invited to keep at home items for re-use and give them away at the end of the confinement.

Source: Brussels Environment

• Wallonia
  

18/03: circular of teh Walloon fovernment, written in collaboration with different organisms and federations, which prescribes the services that the regional waste administration and the inter-municipal and / or municipal authorities must guarantee, as well as the priorities to be set.

Door-to-door waste collection remains the mode of waste collection that must be favored first, because citizens do not have to travel to dispose of their waste by other means, which de facto allows less human contact. The collection of waste via voluntary drop-off stations (bring banks, buried containers ...) distributed on the whole of the intermunicipal territories can constitute an acceptable option, in the sense that it does not induce an excessive gathering of people, even if this collection method generates displacements of people. Consequently, these two collection methods have priority over collection in civic amenity sites and direct contributions in recovery centres, second-hand stores or donations.

As far as possible, selective door-to-door waste collection (packaging, organic waste, paper-cardboard, bulky items, etc.) is an integral part of priority waste collection.

The intermunicipal associations and their affiliated municipalities are invited to communicate the following three messages to citizens, in order to minimize the risks for the personnel responsible for collecting door-to-door waste:

1. Do present a bag full of residual waste and organic waste after a minimum of 7 days of latency allowing to minimize the risks of survival of the virus in the waste;
2. Use a bag or bags, even in chip containers;
3. Double the bags of residual waste with a second non-paying plastic bag (placed inside), if people are found positive for coronavirus or if there is a suspicion of infection with coronavirus.

Source: Walloon government

• Flanders

17/03: guidelines of the Minister of Justice, Environment, Energy & Tourism, put together with the collaboration of OVAM (the Public Waste Agency of Flanders) and Interafval. The purpose is to set priorities in case of shortages in working force in the domain of waste collection.

General guideline:

The purpose during the coronavirus is to limit personal contact. The best way to do that is to maintain and prioritise the door-to-door waste collection as well as the maintenance and emptying of deposit containers.

Door to door collection:

1. The priority goes to collection of residual waste and organic waste. This priority will be implemented as soon as Interafval communicates about a shortage of working force in the sector.
   The collection of PMD (plastic bottles and alu cans), glass, paper & cardboard, textile, bulk waste and trimming waste are not a priority. Nor is there a priority for asbest collection. But there will be clear guidelines on how to store safely asbest at home.
   There is a priority to empty all containers receiving glass, textile and other waste to avoid unhygienic situations around those containers.
   All situations exceeding the minimum required collection rythm can be brought done to that minimum.
   If shortage of workforce is even more critical, priority must be given to densely inhabited areas above countryside zones because of less storage/deposit space of garbage in those zones.

There is no change in the message about sorting of waste and about the application of the different channels for waste sorting. If and only if it is not possible any more to collect even the residual and organic waste, then it will be possible to collect all types of waste together and to bring them to a burning facility. In that case, a special permit will have to be delivered to be able to burn all that waste.

Recycling Parks:

There is, generally speaking, less urgency concerning the waste collected in recycling parks. Therefor, all recycling parks will be closed with immediate effect and at least until 3 April 2020. All those working in the recycling parks will be put to work for door-to-door collection where needed.

Hygiene measures:

Contamination through contact with waste must be avoided by a good hand hygiene. Enough clean work garment and safety gloves must be available at all times.

Communication:

The "intercommunales" and local authorities have to communicate all necessary information to all parties and through different channels:

• about change in waste collection guidelines;
• about change in opening times of recycling parks;
• about the reasons of change in sorting methods (ie.if organic and residual are to be collected together).

Source: Flemish Government

{tab Canada}

Canada

• Quebec

17/04: Several services, including waste collection and elimination and recyclable material collection and sorting have been judged essential. Recyc-Quebec, the provincial materials recovery and recycling agency, has shared some instructions for citizens, businesses linked with deposi-return systems, operators of recyclable material sorting centres, municipal organisation in charge of collection (waste, organic matters, recyclables), entreprises and installations collecting, treating and eliminating organic matters, hazardous matter or biomedical waste. For municipal organisation in charge of collection, the instructions are the following:

• Usual hygiene and protective measures (e.g. wearing gloves) apply.
• Municipal bodies must inform their employees about the hygiene measures to be taken and ensure that adequate protective equipment is used correctly by the employees.
• There is no need to give specific information to citizens (e.g. put the bin on the road 24 hours before collection).
• To facilitate hand washing, washing stations should be installed. We prefer soapy water otherwise hydro-alcoholic solutions must be used after removing visible stains on the hands.
• In the event of floods, debris management must be carried out according to the usual hygiene and protection measures, especially for materials contaminated in particular by mold.
• A FAQ document for sorting centres and municipal organisations is available. It provides more indications, sorted depending on the type of organisation concerned (sorting centre or municipal organisation) on what to do regarding staff shortages, what to do with the materials collected, what to do in case the sorting centre is closed, what to communicate to citizens, etc.

Source: Recyc-Québec

{tab Croatia}

Croatia

• Zagreb

23/03: starting from 23 March the local waste management company will start disinfecting and washing all the residual waste containers, according to a defined schedule. Citizens are asked to leave their bins and containers in a visible spot in order to have them washed by the company’s staff. It will be a one-time activity.

All the other processes (waste collection etc.) will be done as usual until further notice.

Source: Zagreb City Holding Ltd, Subsidiary Čistoća

{tab Czech Republic}

Czech Republic

19/03: recommendations of the National Institute of Public Health for handling used personal protective equipment.

In households with COVID-19 positive persons or quarantined, the used masks should be placed in a plastic bag with a minimum thickness of 0.2 mm, the surface of the bag should be disinfected. If a thinner material is used, then two bags are needed. The well-tied bags must be disposed of in the bin for mixed municipal waste.

For households with COVID-19 positive persons, the local authority, in cooperation with the waste company, should determine the method or a place to store such waste, to collect it and dispose of it safely with a view to minimizing the risk for workers who manage waste, but also for other citizens. Waste disposal, collection and final disposal should be based on local safe disposal options.

A specific procedure (.eg. special collection) for the removal of such waste is determined by the municipality in agreement with the public health (hygiene) authority.

Other households should proceed the same way (with two bags) without disinfection. There is currently no change in the management of waste in healthy household, including regarding selective collection.

Source: Ministry of the Environment

{tab Estonia}

Estonia

19/03: FAQ of the Ministry of the Environment (posted on its website and updated regularly) help clarify waste management during the crisis. Amongst the points answered:

• Waste from infected or quarantine people should be kept away from others and collected in a different way. All waste that comes in direct contact with the infected person must be placed in plastic bag, carefully sealed and thrown away as mixed municipal waste (subject for incineration or landfilling). No source separation of such waste during the infection period.
  
  If there is no virus or direct suspicion of virus, source separation will continue as usual.
• Most of the civic amenity sites are temporarily closed. If the civic amenity site decides to operate, the following arrangements are recommended:
  • Citizens should be advised to refrain from visiting civic amenity sites until the spread of the virus is controlled. This makes it safer for workers and residents of the waste station;
  • Space must be arranged at the civic amenity sites so that there is a distance between people (no lines, etc.);
  • Waste that is delivered to civic amenity site and might be infectious should not be touched or processed manually. At least 72 hours should be waited for treatment if possible, to ensure that the risk of infection is no longer present;
  • Cash payments should be avoided and only card payments should be allowed during the spread of the virus. Disinfectants must be used regularly at the civic amenity sites to clean the ID card reader, card payment terminal and other heavily used surfaces (door knobs and handles, etc.).
• Mixed municipal waste, which may contain waste from infected people, should not be manually treated before incineration or landfilling. Processing should only be automatic, i.e. people should not be exposed to waste.

Source: Ministry of the Environment

{tab Finland}

Finland

20/03: the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health inform that the situation will not lead to changes in current household sorting practices. They have issued recommendations to waste management operators to ensure smooth and safe waste management in exceptional circumstances.

Municipal and private waste management operators have been urged to ensure that their emergency plans are up-to-date and have the resources to carry out critical waste management tasks.

As the epidemic escalates, the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health note that it may be necessary to issue guidelines and regulations on the prioritization of waste management activities and waste collection. As an example, it may be necessary to extend the time allowed for waste loading.

Waste management operators have also been given recommendations for safe working in the transport and handling of waste.

Source: Finnish Government

17/03: instruction of the Finnish Institute for Occupational Health on  how to take preventive measures and stop COVID-19 to spread. The instructions contain information to the waste management companies and their workers and drivers etc. but also instructions to households as follows:

• Handkerchiefs (tissues) and napkins must be discarded with mixed waste, not anymore to bio-waste;
• Waste bags must be closed properly;
• If any delays in emptying waste bins, pack waste tight and take them to a storage/room where it will not cause harm to health and where no animals can have access to waste;
• Waste of infected persons has to be collected separately.

19/03: the situation is reassessed to come to the conclusion that paper tissues and napkins can be sorted into bio waste despite of the coronavirus situation.

The instructions set up by the Finnish Institute for Occupational Health are turned into orders by the local authorities, for example Pirkanmaa.

Source: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and Lounais-Suomen Jätehuolto

{tab France}

France

• National - Government
  

20/04: the Ministry of Labour is preparing and publishing some factsheets for employers and employees offering advice on the measures to be taken by different sectors to fight against the COVID-19.

Source: Ministère du travail

02/04: during a hearing of the French senators of the commission for sustainable development, Environment Minister Élisabeth Borne assures to have transmitted particular instructions to the regional directions for environment, planning and housing concerning the incineration or the exceptional burial of usually unauthorized waste. The regional directions will not apply an increased tax (the so-called TGAP – General tax on polluting activities) on these volumes. The Minister also clarified that "derogations are also possible to meet local challenges, for example by widening the catchment areas with incinerators for healthcare waste with infectious risks in particular".

Source: Sénat

31/03: guidance of the French High Council for Public Health on the protection of the staff in charge of collecting waste. It comes to reply to questions of staff protection raised by the publication on 19 March of a guidance on the management of medical waste produced during the Covid-19 epidemic, in particular in diffuse environments where it recommended according to the situation elimination of waste via the conventional sector for medical waste (so-called DASRI) or elimination according to the conventional sector of household waste with double packaging.

These professionals should respect the barrier measures, in particular hand hygiene at the end of the collection tour, once the gloves have been removed. The HCPH also recommends maintaining the usual means of protection (wearing gloves and suitable working clothes) for the staff ensuring the collection and the sorting of household waste from selective collection as well as for the staff collecting medical waste (DASRI).

Source: Haut Conseil de la santé publique

23/03: the Minister of the Ecological and Inclusive Transition and the Secretary of State to the Minister for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition, bring together the actors of the sector in order to reaffirm their essential character for the maintenance of public health and to specify the measures which will be implemented to support the sector during the crisis period.

With regard to the collection and treatment of waste, all of the professionals reaffirm their full mobilisation to guarantee optimal service continuity. In particular, household waste, waste from businesses and hospitals will continue to be collected with regular frequencies.

It is noted that all of the subcontracting associated with the sector must continue to mobilize in order to guarantee the supply of reagents and parts, the maintenance of equipment and the construction of installations necessary for the collection and treatment of waste.

20/03: the Minister of the Ecological and Inclusive Transition and the Secretary of State to the Minister for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition send a letter to different organisations where they stress that all efforts must be taken to ensure the collection and treatment of waste from infectious risk care activities (the so-called DASRI) and residual household waste, but also the proper functioning, in full capacities, of energy recovery units and incinerators, as well as waste storage facilities. In addition, separate collection (packaging, paper, cardboard, glass) from households and the treatment activity of sorting centres for selectively collected household waste should be maintained as long as possible.

Keeping these two activities will allow to feed the supply chains of other industries, while tensions on supplies are already appearing on the market for glass, plastic and cardboard, due to the high demand from players in the food industry.

In addition, they indicate that it would be desirable, if the availability of agents and employees allows it, to preserve a minimum service for professionals in civic amenity sites so that they can dispose of construction and demolition waste.

Source: Minister of the Ecological and Inclusive Transition and maire-info

The General Direction of Risk Prevention (part of the Minister of the Ecological and Inclusive Transition) missioned the Confederation of Environmental Trades to organise every day a crisis meeting gathering representatives of the main organisations and federations for waste management to collect and share their questions and difficulties.

• National - Associations and organisations

18/03: in a note on waste management during an epidemic, the Association of French Mayors recalls the recommendations to be followed in the context of business continuity plans established following the H1N1 epidemic in 2009. In particular on how to operate when the personal collecting waste is reduced and why selective collection should be maintained as long as possible.

Source: Association of French Mayors

• Amiens Métropole

16/03: Amiens Métropole ensures the continuity of the public service of household waste management according to the following organization: the door to door collection of household waste is maintained according to the usual rhythm of the 2 flows: packaging and residual waste.The collection service at voluntary collection points is maintained and functioning, waste must be introduced inside the bins to avoid any illegal deposit.

Two civic amenity sites will be open until 20 March, only for professionals while another one is closed until further notice. The collection at home of bulky waste by appointment is also interrupted for an indefinite period.

Source: Amiens Métropole

• Grand Besançon Métropole

19/03: residual waste collection normally takes place in all the municipalities. Regarding selective collection, as of 19 March recyclable waste collection is suspended in the suburban housing. Recyclable waste is still collected in collective housing. Residents of downtown Besançon will still be able to deposit recyclable household packaging in the voluntary collection containers of the sorting stations, that will be collected.

The selective collection of glass and the collection of textiles, shoes, leather goods in in drop-off sites are suspended until further notice.
As these trips are not authorized by the government, citizens are requested to keep the glass for recycling and all the textile materials at home in order to resume selective collection at a later date.

All civic amenity sites and collective composting stations (the so-called chalet de compostage) are closed. In addition, going to the collection centres does not fall under the movements authorized by the government. Citizens are invited to keep their waste temporarily at home and especially not to put it in the residual waste bin or sorting bin.

All events, trainings and visits to recycling yards are cancelled. The service of reusable diaper renting is also cancelled.

Sorting instructions have been reminded to citizens, namely that objects (masks, glasses, tissues, etc.) that are likely to present an infectious risk for both the environment and professional in charge of treating them must be disposed of in the residual waste in a hermetically sealed bag. Any pungent, cutting or puncturing care waste must be collected in airtight containers adapted and managed by the DASTRI eco-organization (eco-organism managing medical waste). Self-treatment patients can obtain a box free of charge from the pharmacy upon presentation of their prescription. Once filled, the box must be closed and returned to a collection point.

Source: Grand Besançon Métropole and SYBERT

• Nantes

10/04: Household waste is collected but due to a closure of sorting plants, recyclable waste collection is temporarily suspended. Citizens are asked not to put for collection the recyclable waste and keep it as much as possible. All civic amenity sites and ecopoints are closed. On-demand collection of bulky waste is suspended. Collective composting stations are closed. Collection services reserved to professionals (paper, cardboard, glass,…) are cancelled.

Source: Nantes Métropole

• Paris

April: the Paris municipality continues to guarantee daily waste collection and streets cleaning, with an organization adapted to the context. Given the closure of sorting centers in order to limit the risk of staff exposure, the bins for selectively collected waste (paper, cardboad, plastic, metal packaging) and residual waste may temporarily be mixed in the collection trucks, however citizens are encouraged to continue sorting their waste at gome to keep good habits, which will facilitate recovery when returning to normal. The instructions to take the bin in or out do not change.

The glass collection as well as the Trilib stations continue to operate normally. However, textile collection is interrupted.

Citizens are also asked not to take out their bulky items during this period.

In the 3 neighbourhoods where food waste was selectively collected, the service is interrupted and citizens are asked to dispose of their food waste in the residual waste.

Regarding composting, no visit from a master composter or any delivery of equipment can be guaranteed. Since the optimal conditions for the operation of collective composting at the foot of buildings are not met, the City of Paris therefore recommends the temporary suspension of these installations. Food waste must be deposited with residual waste. Individual vermicomposting can be continued.

The agents in charge of waste collection have received very precise instructions and are equipped to carry out their mission safely.  Teams have been reorganised to limit the number of agents in the same place and a rotation is implemented so that the mobilized agents can rest.

Civic amenity sites and sorting points are closed and the Trimobile service are interrupted.

Source: Ville de Paris

{tab Germany}

Germany

• National

27/03: the Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety invites citizens to avoid the overflow of residual waste bins and observe hygiene rules. Waste prevention and proper waste separation are highlighted as important. For all private households in Germany, in which no infected people or justified suspected cases of COVID-19 live, the requirement of waste separation continues to apply and waste is disposed of as usual.

To protect caretakers, neighbours in multi-party houses and employees in waste disposal, the Federal Ministry for the Environment therefore recommends precautionary measures in coordination with the federal ministries responsible for waste disposal.

For households in which infected people or reasoned suspected cases live in quarantine at home the following applies:

• • Packaging waste, paper and organic waste are disposed of in the residual waste bins;
  • Garbage bags must be sealed. Pointed and sharp objects are packed in break-proof and puncture-proof disposable containers. Garbage bags are stowed away as safely as possible;
  • Glass and deposit packaging as well as electrical and electronic waste, batteries and pollutants are not disposed of with household waste, but are disposed of separately as usual after recovery and removal of the quarantine.

Source: Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety

• Bavaria

19/03: Guidelines circulated by the Bavarian Environmental Department:

The protection of waste management workers and the containment of the COVID19 spread are of the highest priority.Any instructions and specifications of the local health authority must be observed.

On the basis of the recommendations of the Robert Koch Institute for outpatient management, the following measures are taken for handling with waste from private households if there are confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 : handkerchiefs, tissues and other similar waste fractions must be disposed of as residual waste. This also includes, for example, otherwise recyclable waste, such as Yoghurt cups from which food was eaten. In principle, households with suspected or positive COVID-19 cases should make only limited use of the separate waste collection systems (e.g. paper bin, bio bin, yellow bag). However, glass waste can be disposed of separately as before.

All other households continue to dispose of waste as before, in order not to unnecessarily burden the disposal capacities in the waste incineration plants.

Measures to protect the population and waste management workers:

The treatment of residual waste in the Bavarian waste incineration plants ensures safe destruction at very high temperatures of up to 1,000 °C.

In order to ensure that other users of the same waste container as well as third parties such as waste workers are not exposed to risk, the waste must be delivered in securely closed bags with proper mechanical characteristics.

Furthermore, sharp objects have to be packed in unbreakable and puncture-proof disposable containers.

If, as a result of the above-mentioned recommendations, excess quantities of residual waste are produced, households must store the bags as long as possible in rooms not accessible to other people and animals (if necessary, properly packed on the balcony) and only make them available shortly before removal in order to avoid danger for third parties.

Source: Bayerisches Landesamt fürUmwelt

{tab Great-Britain}

Great-Britain

• England - Government
  

April: the following three COVID-19 regulatory position statements (RPS) have been published by the British Government to allow:

• to temporarily store more waste than allowed by the permit if waste cannot be removed from a site because of coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions (Exceeding waste storage limits at permitted sites because of COVID-19: RPS C2 - 17 April);
• allow operators of permitted municipal waste incinerators to accept and incinerate COVID-19 infectious waste at a municipal waste incinerator without varying their environmental permit (Incinerating specified healthcare wastes at a municipal waste incinerator: RPS C4 - 15 April);
• allow NHS England healthcare workers treating patients with (or suspected) COVID-19 in their own homes to dispose of PPE waste through the householder’s normal non-recyclable waste collection (PPE waste from home healthcare workers treating patients with COVID-19: RPS C5).

07/04: the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs of the British Government publishes a non-statutory guide to help local authorities and other waste collectors prioritise their waste collection services during the coronavirus pandemic, developed with comments from local authorities and the waste industry. Waste collection is a devolved policy and the guidance applies to English local authorities only. They are encouraged to maintain services as much as possible. The key points are:

• Maintaining residual waste and food waste collections;
• Aiming to maintain dry recyclables collections (including separate collection of food waste);
• Communicating to residents;
• (Re)allocating staff the waste services

For each stream, an indicative priority is given as well as indication on the action to take, the risks if service reduced or stopped, the possible mitigation and the rationale behind all that:

• High priority streams: residual waste, food waste, fly-tipping, care homes, Dedicated Clinical or Absorbent Hygiene Product (AHP) waste collections from householders, assisted collections;
• Medium priority streams: dry recyclables collections (fortnightly), household waste recycling centres, trade waste collections;
• Low-medium priority: bring sites;
• Low priority: dry recyclables (weekly), garden waste, bulky items (furniture, fridges), deliveries of replacement containers.

Source: DEFRA 

26/03: guidance of Public Health England on managing waste within the home for those that have self-isolated. Waste from possible cases and cleaning of areas where possible Covid19 cases have been (including disposable cloths and tissues):

1. Should be put in a plastic rubbish bag and tied when full.
2. The plastic bag should then be placed in a second bin bag and tied.
3. It should be put in a suitable and secure place and marked for storage until the individual’s test results are known.

Waste should be stored safely and kept away from children. It should not be put in communal waste areas until negative test results are known or the waste has been stored for at least 72 hours.

If storage for at least 72 hours is not appropriate, collection as a Category B infectious waste should be arranged either by the local waste collection authority or by a specialist clinical waste contractor. They will supply the household with orange clinical waste bags where to place the bags into so the waste can be sent for appropriate treatment.

Source: Public Health England

• Scotland

27/04: to help householders and businesses manage their waste while local authorities are working hard to make sure any disruption isn’t in place any longer than it needs to be, Zero Waste Scotland, SEPA, COSLA and the Scottish Government launch a campaign to raise awareness of changes to local waste collections, providing guidance and directing people to up-date-information.

A website - managingourwaste.scot – is giving householders and businesses updates and guidance on how to manage waste. Local authority websites will continue to provide the latest updates on local service changes.

In addition, a platform has been launched by the same organisations, together with waste industry trade associations SESA, RMAS, REA, to connect local authorities requiring support in maintaining their waste services and private operators with capacity to help. The platform allows local authorities who may be temporarily short of resource, such as staff for waste collection vehicles or vehicles themselves, to match with organisations that could help fill the gaps. Private operators can list what they can offer for local authority use.

Source: Zero Waste Scotland

• Central Scotland (North Lanarkshire Council)

March: the North Lanarkshire Council’s Waste Solutions service posted a public message in relation to their preparations for the impact of coronavirus, and assuming a 35% reduction in staff over a period of 6 weeks:

“Although we are currently not experiencing any problems, in the event that we do encounter workforce issues there will be a priority based approach based on public health. The list below details the priority level of collection with ‘1’ being the highest priority:

1. Medical residual (black bin) weekly uplifts.
2. Standard residual (black bin) uplift.
3. Fortnightly food uplift.
4. Trade uplifts.
5. Glass/ Metal/ Plastic Uplift
6. Paper/ Card Uplift
7. Special Uplifts

If the service does encounter a significant downturn in staffing levels then overtime and agency assistance will be utilised in the first instance to maintain all front line services. If despite this intervention we cannot maintain the required staffing level, then service areas would be suspended in order of public health priority. For example, this would first involve the reallocation of pre-booked special uplifts to a future date and thereafter the suspension of recycling services until the next assigned collection day.

The staffing levels will be reviewed on a daily basis and if we do get to below a critical level, and in light of the current guidance from the Scottish Government that people should self-isolate for a period of 14 days, then the service will be restructured to assume this staffing level will continue for a period of 14 days. This would be communicated to residents through social media and on the Council website with messages provided over the phone via the Customer Contact Centre.

Taking this approach will hopefully allow us to maintain the critical public health services of medical, residual and food uplifts.

Similarly, contingency arrangements are in place should we suffer a similar reduction in staffing levels at our Household Waste Recycling Centres. We will reduce the numbers of sites that remain open and the sites will be closed taking into account the populations around the sites and their capacity.

In summary, we will take every measure possible to ensure there is no reduction in any service; but I trust the above information provides you with some understanding as to why we may be forced to undertake changes and the rationale behind those decisions.”

Source: information gathered through direct contact with waste management professionals to be confirmed by official documents

{tab Ireland}

Ireland

22/04: the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton announces that €1m of funds from the Anti Dumping Initiative will be ring-fenced to support efforts to tackle a reported increase in illegal dumping during the Covid 19 crisis. Waste removal and the installation of CCTV or other monitoring and surveillance equipment will be among the activities supported.

Source: Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

March: all the waste used by a contaminated person, including tissues and masks, must be put in a plastic rubbish bag. Tie the bag when it is about three-quarters full. Place the plastic bag in a second bin bag and tie the bag. Do not put the rubbish bags out for collection for 72 hours.

Source: Eastern Midlands Waste Region

{tab Israel}

Israel

April: the Israelian Ministry of Environmental Protection shared guidelines for municipal waste collection and treatment during the pandemic, made in cooperation with the Ministry of Health.

• General

The collection and treatment of municipal waste, including waste separated at source is vital and should be functioning normally whenever possible. In case of staff shortage in any of the phases of waste management, the collection, evacuation and treatment of mixed waste in the 'green bin' will be prioritized.

• Guidelines for the workers of waste collection, evacuation and treatment:

The spread of the new Corona virus is caused mainly through respiratory droplets (sneeze or cough) and through close contact between people (hand shake or hug). The virus can also be transmitted through touching the mouth, eyes and nose after touching infected surfaces although the latter counts to be less significant. Therefore: the protective equipment required for this period is same as the one for normal routine. In case the gloves used in routine are working gloves which protect only from physical injuries and are not sealed, it is recommended to wear sealed gloves (latex) under the working gloves.

It is important to maintain hygienic conditions, including: washing and disinfecting the hand with water and soup or liquid disinfectants. Hand sanitizing is especially important after contact with waste and specifically before contact with food. Furthermore, changing working clothes to clean clothes at the end of the shift is recommended.

Other Ministry of health restrictions regarding behaviour under the COVID-19 situation, specifically in work environments is valid as well.

• Guidelines of the Ministry of Health to the public

The Ministry of Health issued guidelines determining the treatment of possibly infected waste. Waste sourced from verified carriers of the virus or people in isolation (such as gloves, tissues, masks and any other waste) as well as hospitals and building complex with isolated people will be collected in a separate bag. The bag must be closed properly before being put in the mixed-waste bin. Waste should not be separated for recycling purposes. See further details in the link.

Other households should continue separating their waste for recycling as normal.

Source: Officer at Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection

{tab Italy}

Italy

March: the situation in different municipalities and territories in Italy has been summarized by ACR+ member UTILITALIA in the following document (in Italian).

• National level - Government
  

13/03: instructions of the Italian Health Organization and the Health Ministry making a distinction between two main categories of municipal waste streams generated by households.

• Typology 1 - Municipal waste generated by households with COVID19 positive people in isolation or people in mandatory quarantine

From a theorical point of view it should be classified as infectious medical waste (hazardous) code 18 01 03*. The management procedures should comply with by law regulation for such waste stream (operations run by specialized companies, collection using standardized bags, sterilization, specialized treatment plants, etc.). In order to guarantee the collection services, otherwise impossible, the procedures for a safe municipal waste management are the following:

• • There is not source separate collection code 20 03 01, all the waste fractions are collected as residual waste;
  • The waste has to be collected in a first bag and then in a second bag (or more, accordingly to the mechanical properties of the second bag) before putting the bag outside the house for collection on a daily basis;
  • If possible, use a bin or conatiner with a pedal for the waste bags;
  • The bags have to be tied (with string or adhesive tape) using single use gloves;
  • Do not press the bags with hands;
  • Do not allow pets getting close to waste bags;
  • Deliver the waste for collection according to the system in place;
  • If the person in isolation/quarantine can not deliver the waste for the collection service, the local authority must set up a specific service with specialized staff.

• Typology 2 - municipal waste generated by households without COVID19 positive people in isolation or people in mandatory quarantine

It is collected complying with the separate collection system in place. Tissues, masks, single use gloves have to be included in the residual waste stream which has to be delivered through 2 bags closed with string or adhesive tape.

It is highly recommended for workers to:

• Comply with the rules set up by the Health Ministry;
• Use of PPE (personal protective equipment, such as masks, gloves, etc.);
• Clean frequently PPE and overalls
• Replacement of no single use gloves if there is a risk of contamination;
• Sanitize, vehicle cabins

Instructions for the elderly people caregivers:

• They can not deal with typology waste 1;

• They can deal with typology waste 2, adopting specific prevention measures (e.g. single use gloves, then disposed of as residual waste).

The residual waste treatment must comply with the local rules, prioritizing incineration plants (if any).

Source: Istituto Superiore di Sanità

23/03: SNPA (Sistema Nazionale per la Prevenzione dell'Ambiente - National System for the Environmental Protection) publishes a document containing guidelines about municipal waste management in the COVID-19 emergency. Specific instructions for waste treatment and storage are also in the focus.

18/03: publication of guidelines giving indications on street cleaning.

Source: SNPA

• Regional level

Several regions have published orders and notes regarding municipal waste management, such as:

• • Basilicata (21/03/2020)
  • Emilia-Romagna (20/03/2020)
  • Calabria (11/03/2020)
  • Piemonte (nota su rifiuti and Classificazione 1.60.40)

• Tuscany region

March-April: the Tuscany Region Government issued several ordinances in the context of COVID-19. Ordinance 25 (06 April) is related to treatment plants. Ordinance 22 (01 April) is related to the waste generated in healthcare centres with COVID-19 infected people. Ordinance 13 (13 March) provides rules on the management of waste generated by households with Covid-19 infected people or in mandatory quarantine:

• Target identification

The local healthcare unit shares name, address, contact info of the target households with the municipality. The municipality circulates the info to the local municipal waste operator.

• Collection phase

The local municipal waste operator delivers specific collection KIT to the target households. The KIT is composed by: bags, adhesive tape and bin. The door to door collection will be operated every 3/5 days (upon phone contact). All the waste fractions generated by the household will be collected as residual waste (no separate collection).

The residual waste generated in such conditions is classified as residual waste (20.03.01), but it has to be kept separated from the “regular” residual waste.

• Treatment phase

This residual waste can be directly delivered to selected incinerators, without any preliminary sorting/treatment. It is possible to temporary stock the batch in specific container placed in controlled areas.

Source: Tuscany Region

• Local level

• Milan

AMSA, the waste operator for the municipality of Milan, is keeping a real-time update on any changes linked to its services. It includes information on the extraordinary sanitization activities on the streets of Milan but also on the separate door-to-door collection in the city. On 23 April, all door-to-door separate collection services are maintained and are carried out in the usual times and days of the collection calendar. The removal of bulky waste on booking continues regularly, while the paid collection service is suspended until further notice. Since 26 March, two civic amenity sites (via Olgettina 35 and Muggiano) remain open at the usual time, with an access allowed only to a number of people that guarantee the safety distances and a stay limited to the time strictly necessary for the discharge of waste. Other civic amenity sites are closed.

Source: AMSA

• Treviso

27/03: the door to door separate collection services will be maintained for the municipalities served by Contarina (waste operator) but the civic amenity sites will be closed. Street cleaning activities will be maintained, even if they could be reduced (e.g. to guarantee the minimum distance between two workers). Otherwise, Contarina offices open to public will be closed (it will be possible to access to the offices only for specific reasons previous telephone appointment) and online and call centre services will be active.

Workers received the instructions to comply with general rules set up by the Government. They are provided with personal protective equipment. A flexible entry time has been arranged to avoid people gathering and dressing rooms have been closed. The collection services are provided with one worker/vehicle.

A specific communication including the different measures and instructions has been distributed to citizens.

Source: Contarina

{tab Lebanon}

Lebanon

23/04: the Ministry of Environment issued general guidelines for municipal solid waste management under risks of COVID-19 outbreak regarding collection, sorting, treatment and sanitary landfilling.

{tab Luxembourg}

Luxembourg

20/04: household waste, organic waste, glass, paper/cardboard and PMC packaging (Valorlux bags) are collected as normal, unless otherwise stated. Schedules remain normal for Valorlux. Recyclable materials such as paper/cardboard, glass, old clothes and used batteries can be placed in the containers at one of the 57 public collection points. Residents and visitors are asked to follow the instructions for these collection points and not to leave any materials next to the containers. The Service Hygiène (Sanitation Department) will regularly empty these containers.

There are no on-demand collections of bulky waste. Residents can set a date by phone or email for collection of woody garden waste, it will be collected by the Service Hygiène to the extent of its capabilities. Grass clippings (only) will be taken away with weekly collections of organic waste. The Recycling Centre reopened on 20 April, with no more than 12 vehicles (with no more than 2 persons inside) accepted on the site and masks must be worn all the time. The Second Hand Shop remains closed.

SuperDrecksKëscht* collections (mobile and door-to-door) have been cancelled until further notice. Residents are asked not to leave hazardous or toxic waste outside their homes or in public spaces.

Sources: Ville de Luxembourg and Valorlux

*The SuperDrecksKëscht® in Luxembourg are activities and campaigns of the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development, the Chambre des Métiers (Chamber of Trade) and Chambre de Commerce (Chamber of Commerce) regarding the national waste management. This includes in particular a mobile-station for the collection of specific waste fractions (Batteries and accumulators, light bulbs, paints, etc.)

{tab The Netherlands}

The Netherlands

• The Hague

21/03: the municipality informs that the waste and recycling stations are too busy. It noticed that many people are busy cleaning up their homes. A large amount of waste was brought to the municipality's garbage and recycling stations which are busier than usual (with lines to enter). Citizens are asked to take their waste to the waste and recycling station only if it is really necessary.

16/03: the municipality informs that household waste will be collected by the Haagse Milieu Services (HMS) in the usual way. Oversized waste, large garden waste and construction and demolition waste can be taken to a garbage and recycling station.

Source: The Hague

• Amsterdam

13/03: the municipality informs that waste collection will continue as well as emptying the underground containers. As of 16 March, the collection is spread more over the day with an adjustment of the waste collection times. Collection starts at 6:00 am instead of 7:00 am and continues until 8:00 pm. This is a preventive measure, valid until 6 April, to ensure the health of the employees and to continue collecting waste.

Source: Amsterdam

{tab Norway}

Norway

• General

02/04: the Environment Directorate asks people not to overload the waste disposal, noting that it is important to maintain the collection and handling of waste from private households and industries in the future.

Several civic amenity sites are experiencing high demand from people who come to deliver waste. Many have reduced opening hours, and some municipalities have announced that they will close the services that allow private individuals to deliver waste at civic amenity sites.

People are asked, as far as possible, to store waste that should normally be delivered to civic amenity sites in their own homes until conditions are normalized and there is better capacity for waste collection in each municipality. It is also not recommended to clean the attics and basements these days, if it increases the need to deliver waste.

At the same time, it is important that municipalities ensure a minimum supply at the civic amenity sites, so as to minimize the risk of shortage or inadvertent handling of the waste.

In many parts of the country, it will still be possible to rent a container from private waste operators, which can be a substitute for seeking out a civic amenity sites.

In several municipalities, there are unattended reception areas for hazardous waste. Individuals should only use these to dispose of hazardous waste, not other waste.

The Environment Directorate has received several reports that the handling of waste and hazardous waste exposes the employees in the waste industry to considerable work pressure these days, and the risk of spreading corona.

The Environment Directorate follows the situation closely and is in close dialogue with the waste industry, business and municipalities, and is considering various measures to ensure the necessary waste management.

Source: Miljødirektoratet

• KS Bedrift*

19/03: KS Bedrift Waste has gathered some of the measures taken by its members:

• Households

Informing users (own website or social media) about reduced opening hours, expectations for collection being delayed, containers that can be put forward and stand up, asking for extra good packaging and sealing of waste, offering practical advice on hand hygiene, distance, washing of handles on containers.

Visits to civic amenities sites are recommended to be avoided and request inquiries to be done preferably by email and phone.

• Own facilities

Many civic amenities sites are open, but typical areas at risk of contagion are often closed, such as recycling centers. Some have chosen to temporarily close recycling stations for the risk of infection spread to visitors and employees. Access is limited so just a few types of waste are delivered by a few visitors at a time (avoiding like that many people together in one place).

Contacts are avoided when possible, with contactless payments instead of cards with keyboard. Employees are being protected screens if talking directly with visitors. Guided tours are canceled.

Most municipalities have taken measures to avoid contamination among garbage collectors, such as raised hygiene in trucks and clothes. Coffee and lunch breaks are taken separately, or with just a few persons.

Citizens are encouraged to avoid civic amenty centres, to clean handles on bins and separate waste carefully and keep sorted waste at home if possible, if the municipality needs to prioritize residual and food waste.

General hygienic precautions apply to all, both citizens and employees.

Waste that would be considered contagious in a normal situation, is to be considered contagious now as well.

• Norwegian government

Need for intermediate storage when processing and sorting facilities are full, or go for half machine

Temporary change in landfill permits

Temporary permits to carry waste elsewhere

The waste sector is considered "critical sector" regarding environmental issues. This gives priority to, for example, child care in extraordinary situations.

Source: KS Bedrift

*KS Bedrifht is an employers’ association and interest group for enterprises in the municipal sector.

{tab Palestine}

Palestine

• Ramallah

04/04: Ramallah Municipality has activated an integrated risk-management policy with six principal measures. Ensuring that solid waste continues to be collected and that waste-water and treatment plants remain in operation is one of them. The municipality is also supporting neighbouring cities efforts to maintain their services.

{tab Peru}

Peru

29/03: the Ministry of Environment informs that it started delivering equipment kits (including containers, primary storage bins, and waste bags) and PPE in Lima and Callao, to 30 prioritised municipalities to reinforce the continuity of services and the protection of workers. The 30 municipalities have been selected based on their population, the total generation of solid waste, the type of cleaning service provision, the municipal budget, among others.

The Ministry has been coordinating with the provincial and district municipalities to monitor the public cleaning service. Based on that, it recommends that municipal authorities adapt their cleaning schedules and carry out the service during the day to avoid workers facing problems to get home.

Citizens are recommended not to get rid of bulky waste and other big items (electrical appliances, wood, tyres, etc.) to let the municipal cleaning service carry out its work as fast as possible. Similarly, construction waste should not be left outside for municipalities to collect in priority household waste. Household should consume responsibly to avoid an excessive generation of waste.

Source: Ministry of Environment

16/03: the Environment Ministry declares waste management as an essential service and met with mayors and regional governors to ensure that this municipal service is guaranteed. It reminded that the municipalities must make sure that waste workers are wearing appropriate PPE. Instructions have been shared with citizens concerning the handling of waste from a household with contaminated or suspected cases of COVID-19. All waste generated must be placed in a tied polythene bag which should be sprayed with a 1% solution of bleach solution (sodium hypocholorite). This bag should be placed in another bag, also washed and disinfected with the bleach solution.

{tab Portugal}

Portugal

• National level

22/03: the Minister for the Environment and Climate Action, João Pedro Matos Fernandes, signs three orders that come into force at 00:00 on 23 March 2020, and that cover municipal waste management and other essential areas such as water supply, supply of energy, electricity, gas and fuels and also transport. The three orders, which aim to guarantee essential services to the country, arise due to the exceptional situation that is experienced and the proliferation of registered cases of contagion of COVID-19 and which requires the application of extraordinary and urgent measures to prevent the transmission of the virus and contain the spread of the disease COVID-19.

In order to ensure the continuity of the provision of public urban waste management services, below the priorities that are laid down in the order:
a) Exploitation of urban waste management systems, such as operation and functioning of the treatment units of municipal waste, including incineration and landfill; b) Maintenance and repair activities in all the waste management infrastructures; c) Assessment of the capacity need to treat the increasing mixed waste; d) Increase the frequency of collection of mixed waste, whenever necessary; e) Reinforcement of sanitation and disinfection of municipal waste containers; f) Reinforcement of monitoring for the correct delivery of waste and creation of fast-acting teams for cleaning waste outside the containers.

Source: Government of Portugal

Following the Order of the Minister for the Environment and Climate Action No. 3547-A / 2020, of 22 March, the Portuguese Environment Agency updates guidelines and recommendations for the management and collection of municipal waste in the pandemic situation.

09/04: a recommendation the Portuguese Environment Agency focusing on urban waste collection. It aims to guarantee the protection of public health, prevent the spread of the disease and protect workers involved in waste collection and treatment operations, where the measures already defined in this area must be strictly complied with, namely in terms of hygiene and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

24/03: guidelines and recommendations of the Portuguese Environment Agency regarding waste management to ensure the protection of public health, workers and prevent the spread of the disease, making it compatible with the need for effective and efficient waste management. It provides information on how to manage waste from household with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19. It should be noted that, in this case, if there is no place for selective collection, recyclable waste must be deposited with mixed waste and never at the recycling center.

For households without confirmed or suspected cases, waste management should be carried out in the usual way, with the changes recommended by the municipality or collection system. It is recommended, in this situation, to maintain the selective collection in order to avoid overloading the final destination treatments, incineration and landfill. Gloves, masks and other protective materials, even if they are not contaminated, should under no circumstances be placed in the selective collection container but must be sent with mixed waste collection in a tightly closed bag.

Guidelines are also given for the management of waste produced in businesses, hotels and other places with a high concentration of people, such as ports and airports, and for operators of waste collection and treatment.

Municipalities and other entities involved in the collection of municipal waste, if necessary, in conjunction with the Urban Waste Management Systems, should foresee in their contingency plan and implement an increase in the collection frequency of the mixed waste fraction. It is not advisable to make significant changes to the days of waste collection or the collection model when it is not necessary, under the risk of creating an accumulation of waste on the streets and consequent public health problems. Urban Waste Management Systems should continue with the routing of undifferentiated waste, directly and without any previous treatment that may break the bags, preferably for incineration (particularly in the large urban areas of Lisbon and Porto for the facilities available from Valorsul and Lipor, respectively) or for landfill when it is not possible to use incineration capacity or when the geographical location of the production of this waste justifies it. At this stage, it is understood that the mechanical treatment of mixed waste should be stopped, thus reducing the exposure of workers in these units. In the case of waste placed in landfill, it is recommended that the frequency of their coverage be increased, which must be carried out in the shortest possible time, at least daily. The recyclable waste collected selectively must be subjected to a storage period of at least 72 hours prior to its processing, in the sorting unit or in an area that meets the minimum conditions necessary for its storage

Source: Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente

{tab Serbia}

Serbia

• Belgrade

20/03: during the state of emergency (declared on the territory of the Republic of Serbia on 16 March), in addition to regular waste collection and cleaning activities, Public Utility Company “Gradska čistoća” regularly wash waste disposal containers using a chlorine-based disinfectant prescribed by the World Health Organisation as a measure to prevent the spread of COVID19.

They request from all citizens to dispose waste properly and only in places designated for this, in order to avoid formation of "wild" landfills and to enable all the emergency teams to effectively maintain hygiene in the city of Belgrade. Citizens are reminded to close the containers after disposing of waste so that it does not fall off onto public areas and use foot slippers to avoid contact with the container.

Source: Public Utility Company “Gradska čistoća” Belgrade

{tab Slovakia}

Slovakia

18/03: the Ministry of Environment informs that the restriction measures of the Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic (dated 16 March) closing all retail operations and all services providing services do not apply to waste management that is the operation of waste collection facilities (collection companies, collection yard) or waste recovery or disposal facilities (landfills, waste pre-treatment, waste processors ...).

30/03: update of the guidance, appealing to responsible behavior, to guarantee the continuity of services. Noting that there is no high concentration of people in one place in waste management, it states that operations or activities that handle waste, such as the collection of mixed municipal waste, the collection of sorted municipal waste components, sorting lines, waste treatment, waste incineration plants, landfills are not affected to date.

Civic amenity sites and waste buy-outs are affected by the measures of the Public Health Authority (as there is a direct contact with customers) and could not operate until 29 March. An update from 29 March explicitly lists collection points which have been reopened since 30 March.

Source: Ministry of Environment

08/04: opinion of the Public Health Authority on a request for guidance for municipalities in the management of municipal waste where it  recommends the disposal of used household masks, handkerchiefs and gloves as mixed waste, placed in plastic waste bags and subsequently in mixed waste containers in accordance with the applicable legislation under the competence of the Ministry of Environment and recommends to advise the public not to throw such waste into containers for the separation of waste (paper, plastic).

Source: Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic

{tab Slovenia}

Slovenia

March: SNAGA introduces some safety measures: several (not all of them so far) collection centres are closed and the collection of hazardous waste and small electric/electronic equipment via mobile collection unit has been cancelled.

Source: information gathered through direct contact with waste management professionals to be confirmed by official documents

{tab Spain}

Spain

• National

19/03: order of the Ministry of Health establishing instructions on waste management in the situation of sanitary crisis caused by COVID-19 related to the management of waste, within the household and its treatment afterwards, from households with COVID-19 positive people as well as on the management of waste from hospitals, ambulances, health centers, laboratories, and similar establishments in contact with COVID-19. It includes in its annex the recommendations for the management of waste from households with positives or quarantined by COVID-19, as well as the management of waste from households without positive or quarantine.

13/03: communication of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge to the Autonomous Communities and the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP), which in turn have given the local entities some recommendations on the management of household waste from households with isolated / quarantined people by COVID-19. Since waste management is the responsibility of the autonomous communities and local entities, these are guidelines for good practice, which have been previously discussed with all the competent authorities, including the autonomous administrations and the FEMP, taking into account the precautionary principle.

The waste from homes, hospitals, ambulances, health centers, laboratories, and similar establishments in contact with COVID-19, will be managed according to what is indicated in the following instructions:

1. In households positive or quarantined by COVID-19, the residual fraction bags generated, properly closed following the recommendations in section 1 of the annex, will be deposited exclusively in the residual fraction container or in any other residual fraction collection system established in the local entity. In the wet-dry collection systems, the bags will be deposited in the fraction indicated by the local entity and said bag will receive the treatment indicated in the second section.
2. The management of waste from households without positive or quarantined by COVID-19, will continue to be carried out in the usual way in accordance with ordinary waste management regulations, taking into account the recommendations in section 2 of the annex.
3. Bags from centers / places where there is a high level of those affected by COVID-19 (residences, hospitalized hotels, etc.) may be collected separately for the duration of the health crisis, given the high level of waste generation associated. These bags will be identified externally (for example, by means of insulating tape or similar) and will be deposited according to what is established by the authorities responsible for waste collection. These bags will be managed in the manner indicated in the second section 4.
4. The residual fraction collected in accordance with point 1 will be managed as follows:
   1. Regarding the residual fraction:
      • No manual opening of the residual waste bags should be carried out in collection or treatment facilities.
      • It will be sent to incineration, preferably, or landfill.
      • If treatments are carried out prior to incineration or landfill, they will be carried out automatically, allowing manual selection only for the separation of bulky, metallic or other waste that does not go in bags and whose separation is necessary, provided that all necessary security measures are adopted.
        For these purposes, and if necessary, cement plants with a permit to co-incinerate waste shall proceed to the incineration of the remaining fraction at the request of the competent authorities.
   2. The recovery of materials will only be carried out automatically; to maximize security, the competent authorities may agree that the materials are stored for at least seventy-two hours.
   3. Both for the collection of waste and in all the plants that receive these bags, specific protocols will be developed for the protection of workers and the disinfection of equipment and vehicles, or existing ones will be reviewed with the same objective, and will be equipped with the personal protective equipment (PPE) necessary for workers.

5. Waste in contact with COVID-19 from hospitals, ambulances, health centers, laboratories, or similar establishments, as well as those derived from the disinfection of facilities, will be carried out as follows:

   The residues in contact with COVID-19 such as gloves, masks, gowns, etc., will be considered as infectious residues and will be managed as such, according to the provisions laid out in the regional regulation on sanitary residues.

   The filling of the containers available in these centers must be maximized for each of the types of waste generated, avoiding delivery to authorized managers without optimizing their capacity, so that the most efficient management possible is achieved.

   The competent authorities may require the coordinated work of the waste management companies to cover the needs of these centers, as well as the provision of third-party warehouses or land for the storage of containers when managers encounter difficulties.
   If necessary, cement plants with a permit to co-incinerate waste must incinerate waste upon request of the competent authorities.

   Regarding the transfer of this waste, exceptionally, and in application of the third additional provision of Royal Decree 180/2015, of March 13, which regulates the transfer of waste within the territory of the State, the prior notification required in article 8 of the aforementioned royal decree will not be required, both between autonomous communities and within the territory of an Autonomous Community.

6. The collection and management of municipal waste and those mentioned in the second section.5 is considered essential service. The competent administrations must guarantee sufficient collection frequencies, in order to avoid the accumulation of waste outside their containers, as well as the subsequent treatment of the waste.

Annex: management of waste at home

• In infected households or in quarantine:
  The patient's waste, including the disposable material used by the sick person (gloves, handkerchiefs, masks), must be disposed of in a plastic bag (bag 1) in a dustbin arranged in the room, preferably with a lid and pedal opening, without making any separation for recycling.
  
  The plastic bag (bag 1) must be closed properly and placed in a second garbage bag (bag 2), next to the exit of the room, where the gloves and mask used by the caregiver will also be deposited, and will be closed properly before leaving the room.
  
  Bag 2, with the previous waste, will be deposited with the rest of the household waste in the garbage bag (bag 3) corresponding to residual waste bin.
  
  Bag 3 properly closed will be deposited exclusively in the residual container (or in any other waste fraction collection system established by the local entity).
  
  In populations with wet-dry separation systems or similar, bag 2 should be deposited in the fraction indicated by the local entity.

• Households without positives or quarantine:
  The separation of the waste will be carried out as usual, trying to maximize said separation in order to reduce the residual fraction generated. Separate fractions will only be deposited in the corresponding containers.

Sources: Boletin Oficial del Estado and Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico

• Andalucia

20/03: guidelines of the Governing Council of Andalucia regarding the management of household waste, having taken notes of the recommendations issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Sustainable Development. These guidelines, drawn up by the General Directorate for Environmental Quality and Climate Change, distinguish two phases, the first with regard to the management of household waste, and the second focuses on the collection and management of this waste.

• Catalonia

31/03: publication on the Waste Agency of Catalonia's website and social networks practical tips for citizens concerning the prevention and collection of municipal household waste during COVID-19. It advises citizens to:

• Pay attention to prevention and responsible consumption activities in order to minize waste generation (e.g. organise purchases to reduce accumulation of goods, reduce packaging and wrapping, repaire damaged products);
• Avoid food wastage (e.g. by not buying mroe food than mecessary, carefully planning menus, arranging the pantry and the fridge, preserving leftover food,...);
• Store at home reusable or recyclable waste (e.g. bulky waste, WEEE, ...) to properly manage it once the services are restored;
• Store the clothes to be taken away at home to avoid overloading textile waste containers and as second-hand stores are closed;
• Only medecine residues can be brought to the dedicated collection points when going to the pharmacy. Otherwise citizens are recommended to stay home and store any medication residues until the alarm ends;
• Handle masks, gloves, wipes and any other similar waste, in a perfectly sealed plastic bag, as a rest fraction; in no case can this waste be thrown into the toilet;
• Remember the importance of maximizing the separation at source and selective collection of the different fractions.

Source: Waste Agency of Catalonia

14/03: instructions sent to the owners and operators of municipal waste treatment facilities, following the instructions received from the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge:

• Maintain the normal functioning of municipal waste treatment facilities as far as possible, ensuring the least impact on the public service;
• As long as the plant can be kept in operation, direct contact of the staff with waste must be avoided. In this sense, manual triage processes should be avoided, keeping automatic systems in place as long as they are available;
• It is necessary for all staff to work with appropriate personal protective equipment and to have sufficient stock of these materials in the facilities;
• It is advisable to separate work shifts to avoid widespread infection of the staff and to obtain a greater guarantee of maintenance of the service.
• In the case of receiving waste that is identified with COVID-19 infection or that comes from specific circuits identified with infected people, it has to be directly sent to the final treatment (if possible incineration, otherwise controlled storage).
• The materials that are recovered during the valorisation process during the COVID-19 pandemic period will be stored for a minimum of 72 hours before they are dispatched, minimizing manipulation in the warehouse.
• In those cases in which, due to the instructions of competent bodies or due to possible infection of the operation staff, the service presents a shortage, the transfer of waste to alternative authorized facilities must be ensured for its treatment.
• When it is not possible to transfer the waste to authorized facilities for equivalent treatment, all the waste may be derived directly to final treatment processes. These will be energy recovery whenever possible, or controlled storage as an alternative.
• In this regard, it is recommended that the final treatment has to be performed at authorized facilities in Catalonia, preferably nearby, in order to reduce the impact of transport.
• Depending on the evolution of the situation, other extraordinary measures may be implemented.

Source: Catalan Waste Agency

• Ayuntamiento de Palma

11/03: the Board of Directors of EMAYA, the public utility company of the Ayuntamiento de Palma, removes the approval the revision of the waste collection fee from its meeting discussing the upcoming budget. The decision was motivated by the uncertainty situation caused by the coronavirus crisis and its economic repercussions for citizens and businesses. This EMAYA initiative is part of the decisions made by different administrations to offset the impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic on the economy.

Ramon Perpinyà, President of EMAYA and Deputy Mayor for Environment and Animal Welfare, said that "the spread of viruses has economic effects with a special impact on the tourism sector, and therefore among the workers of our Autonomous Community". "Public administrations need to be sensitive trying to compensate for them," he adds, "it is a matter that we have addressed today at the Board of Governors of the City Council. It's not time to upgrade to higher rates," affirmed. The waste collection fee has not been changed since 2013 and required an upgrade due to the increasing of the material and human costs to operate waste collection in recent years.

Source: EMAYA

• Mancomunidad de Debagoiena

18/03: adoption of the following measures:

• • Municipalities with a container collection system: citizens who have tested positive for COVID19 or those who are in quarantine will not separate their waste, which must be deposited in closed plastic bags in the container for residual waste.
  • Municipalities with a door-to-door collection system: containers for residual waste will be installed in various collection points of these municipalities. It will be possible for citizens to deposit their residual waste in these containers every day. Citizens who have tested positive for COVID19 or those who are quarantined must not separate waste. All their waste must be deposited in the residual waste containers in closed plastic bags.

In both cases, the Instructions of the Ministry of Ecological Transition will be applied.

The containers for residual and organic waste will be opened and, therefore, can be used without a card.

Bulky waste and textile and other recyclable items collection has been cancelled.

Source: Mancomunidad de Debagoiena

{tab Sweden}

 Sweden

08/05: the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency published guidance on waste classification regarding infectious waste and its transport. It also includes information on the management of household and assimilated waste. Following the advice and instruction of the Public Health Authority which considers that the risk of spreading coronavirus via household waste is very low and provided that ordinary waste management procedures are followed, household and assimilated waste from households with people who are infected or suspected to be infected is considered to pose a very low risk of infection and can be handled as usual, ie. is disposed of for incineration. However, waste that is considered to be contaminated with airway secretion or other body fluids, such as used paper handkerchiefs and diapers, should however be put in a waste bag that is sealed properly.

Source: Swedish Environmental Protection Agency

{tab Switzerland}

Switzerland

19/03: recommendations to the cantons concerning household waste disposal in the extraordinary situation related to coronavirus, developed by the Federal Office for the Environment in cooperation with the Federal Office of Public Health, the Federal Roads Office and SUVA. The following measures are recommended:

• Household waste collection by municipalities: the collection of household waste and garden waste from household must be guaranteed. The population should:
  • Place used masks, tissues, hygienical items and paper towels in small plastic bags immediately after use;
  • These small plastic bags must be tied with a knot and disposed of in a bin with a lid, equipped with a bin bag from the municipality;
  • Bin bags must then be closed and disposed of with residual waste;
  • Household with infected people or in quarantine must not sort their waste and instead dispose of everything with residual waste (including garden and organic waste).
• Municipal civic amenity sites:
  • Public civic amenity sites must be kept open with or without personal, providing specific information e.g. through posters
  • Cantons and municipalities must inform citizens of the following: they should go to civic amenity sites only if strictly necessary. Non-perishable or clean waste should be stored at home. The incineration of waste in the garden or in a chimney remains prohibited, despite the current situation.
• Recycling companies must remain in operation. All aspects related to occupational health (worker protection) must be strictly observed. If this is not possible, the business must close.
• Regarding workers’ protection: the protective measures must be applied scrupulously.

Source: Federal Office for the Environment

{tab Turkey}

Turkey

• National

The Turkish Ministry of Environment and Urbanization issued several circulars. 07/04: "Circular on Covid-19 Precautions for the Management of Personal Hygiene Material Wastes such as Disposable Mask and Gloves" which regulates the management of personal protective and hygiene material wastes arising from;

• public buildings, institutions, organizations and enterprises,
• quarantine (isolation) units of healthcare institutions or other dedicated isolation areas,
• households, small shops and commercials.

Public buildings, institutions, organizations and enterprises:

• Wastes should be separately collected in a container coloured gray or gray-labeled written “only for masks, gloves and other personal hygiene material waste” on it.
• When three quarter of the waste bag is full, the bag should be closed tightly, taken into a “second bag”, and carried to the “temporary storage area” by the dedicated staff.
• Waste bags should be kept in temporary storage areas for “at least 72 hours”, then they should be delivered to the municipality to be managed as “domestic waste”.

Households, small shops and commercials:

• Wastes should be separately accumulated in a plastic tear-resistant garbage bags, tightly closed and placed in a “second bag” to avoid the risk of rupture.
• Waste bags should be kept in a room or balcony for “at least 72 hours”, then they should be delivered to the municipality to be managed as “domestic waste”.

Quarantine (isolation) units of healthcare institutions or other dedicated isolation areas (such as student dormitories, etc.):

• Wastes should not be mixed with other wastes and should be managed as “medical waste”.

Besides that, according to the Circular (2020/12) it should be ensured that the staff in charge of collection, transportation, treatment and disposal of the wastes, use the personal protective equipment such as gloves and masks, be careful not to contact directly with waste. The containers/equipments used for collection, transportation and storage operations and the areas where the equipments located should be disinfected after each waste discharge. Precautions should be taken for spills and/or leakage, and in case of contamination, the contaminated surface should be disinfected.

Source: Ministry of Environment and Urbanization

Another Circular is focusing on necessary measures to be taken in response to COVID-19 pandemic and sent it to all cities across Turkey. The Circular contains following measures with regard to waste management and sanitation:

• Sanitary measures:
  • All public transport vehicles, stops, and stations under the authority of local governments will be cleaned and disenfected frequently and in the way specified by the Science Board formed within the Ministry of Health.
  • Sanitizers will be placed in public transportats and densely populated areas and buildings.
  • Public spaces will be cleaned and disenfected frequently and in the way specified by the Science Board formed within the Ministry of Health.
  • Local governments will ensure surface cleaning, ventilation, sanitation and disinfection of service buildings in the way specified by the Science Board formed within the Ministry of Health. They will also meet the demands of other public institutions and schools.
• Waste management measures:
  • Waste will be collected more frequently and regularly.
  • The number of waste collection vehicles and staff will be maintained at sufficient level.
  • Necessary measures will be taken in waste storage and disposal facilities.
• Local governments have taken the necessary measures set in the Circular. Following actions have been observed accordingly:
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) of waste collection staff has been improved by local governments.
  • Waste collection frequency has been increased. Thus accumulation period in containers has been shortened.
  • Citizens have been warned to tightly close garbage bags and to be careful that the cutting / piercing objects do not damage the bags.

Approximately 11,300 people who arrived to Turkey from abroad have been quarantined in dormitories in 23 cities. All wastes originating from the quarantine zone are considered to be infectious wastes and managed through the same procedures applying to medical wastes, regardless of whether they are domestic, packaging or non-hazardous waste. In this context, these wastes have been disposed in medical waste sterilization facilities in order to ensure elimination of infection.

Source: information gathered through direct contact with waste management professionals to be confirmed by official documents

• Muratpaşa Municipality

April: due to the epidemic of COVID-19, Muratpaşa Municipality continues its disinfection and disinfection studies in public areas. The hygiene team within the Directorate of Cleaning Affairs disinfected the main service building of the municipality, where thousands of people enter and exit every day. Within the scope of the works, the teams also carried out disinfection in the municipal main service building in Fener District, where thousands of people enter and exit every day. The municipality culture hall, especially the wedding hall, the exhibition areas and the foyer were thoroughly cleaned, while handrails and elevators were also sprayed. Within the scope of the measures, a liquid hand sanitizer was placed at certain points in the main service building.

All necessary precautions were taken to prevent the personnel on the field from being affected by the virus. Within this scope, the entrance to the municipal service building was also reduced to a single door, and an ozone room was set up to disinfect everyone coming and going to the municipal main service building.

One of the symbols of Antalya, historical Kaleiçi ancient city was disinfected against the corona virus outbreak by the teams of Muratpaşa Municipality. The 10-member team affiliated to the municipality sprayed the Hadrian's Gate, the streets and the Hidirlik Tower, which tourists pass through with their special equipment, against all kinds of bacteria and viruses.

Muratpaşa Municipality also disinfected the buildings used by other public institutions and organizations against the virus. Within the scope of the works, the hygiene team of Muratpaşa Municipality disinfected the police and family health centers in the district. Teams also washed and disinfected the market places with medicated water both before and after the market is established.

Source: information gathered through direct contact with waste management professionals to be confirmed by official documents

{tab USA}

USA

April: the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has designated solid waste as an essential service.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is providing guidance for solid waste management workers and employers. Generally, management of waste that is suspected or known to contain or be contaminated with COVID-19 does not require special precautions beyond those already used to protect workers from the hazards they encounter during their routine job tasks in solid waste and wastewater management.
Workers and employers should manage municipal (e.g., household, business) solid waste with potential or known SARS-CoV-2 contamination like any other non-contaminated municipal waste. Municipal waste workers and employers and workers in the recycling industry should continue to use typical engineering and administrative controls, safe work practices, and PPE, such as puncture-resistant gloves and face and eye protection, to prevent worker exposure to recyclable materials they manage, including any contaminants in the materials.

Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration 

The Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials has published a list of resources and responses issued by the government, states, organisations and industries: http://astswmo.org/covid-19-resources/

{/tabs}

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