Supporting Council Waste Workers

With most of us now staying at home, more household waste is putting pressure on recycling and waste services. Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is working with Recycle Now NI as it launches a campaign to let householders know how they can help recycling and waste workers stay safe while they continue to provide us with the best possible service during the COVID-19 crisis. 

The four-week campaign will consist of social media, local radio advertisements and leaflets distributed to every household across the district from Monday 11 May.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Charlie Casey said, “We are asking all our residents to act now to protect the key workers in the Council so that they can continue to provide vital waste collection services in these difficult times. Please follow the advice regarding waste and recycling to help keep our district clean, safe and protected.”

Dr Ian Garner, Head of WRAP Northern Ireland, said, “Council recycling and waste collectors have been designated as key workers – and quite rightly. During the COVID-19 crisis they need our support and cooperation more than ever, so they can continue to do their jobs safely. The situation is challenging and can change quickly – so it’s up to us all to help.” 

We can do this by:

• Checking the Council’s website regularly for updates on recycling and waste collections – including what can and can’t be recycled. Collections are currently continuing as normal, however residents are asked to place their bins out the night before the scheduled collection. Updated calendars are available for download from the Council’s website. 

• Not taking any waste or recycling to the local Household Recycling Centre (HRC), or clothes and other items to charity shops or clothes banks. The Council’s Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) are currently closed, however this decision is continuously being reviewed. Items should not be left on charity shop doorsteps. 

• Minimising the amount of rubbish, recycling and food waste we produce. Every bit we can reduce will make a real difference to maintaining a good service for everyone. Find tips for reducing food waste at WWW.LOVEFOODHATEWASTE.COM and information on home composting at WWW.RECYCLENOW.COM

• If you’re self-isolating and feeling ill, putting any potentially infected items like used tissues or cleaning cloths into separate plastic bags and double bagging them. These bags should be kept aside for at least 72 hours (three days) before they go into your external bin. 

• Avoiding doing big clear-outs while at home, which will create more rubbish and recycling. We need to hold onto large items such as furniture, mattresses etc. until the outbreak has subsided and services return to normal.  

  

• Not burning waste at home. This creates air pollution that could harm people nearby who may already have breathing difficulties due to COVID-19. There is also the danger that fires could get out of control; fire services around the country are reporting an increase in callouts due to garden fires. 

Remember fly-tipping is illegal and impacts public health and our environment. It is a criminal offence to dump waste illegally. 

• Continuing to wash our hands regularly, maintaining good hygiene when handling our rubbish and recycling and keeping at least two metres from workers when they are collecting. 

When putting out bins we should: 

• Put bins out the evening before collection is scheduled. 
• Clean bin handles with disinfectant before and after collection. 
• Put wipes, cloths, gloves etc. used for cleaning into the general waste. 

Our ability to maintain usual collections may change throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Please remember to check the Council’s website WWW.NEWRYMOURNEDOWN.ORG or social media channels for collection updates, and please continue to recycle at home in the meantime. 

If you have a non-urgent query, such as a missed bin collection, please email us on recycling@nmandd.org and we will endeavour to contact you as quickly as we can.

For all urgent queries please contact on us 0330 137 4047. You may not get through immediately, however, we would ask you to be patient until a customer service representative becomes available.