Waste operatives belonging to the trade union Unite working for Biffa Waste Services in Wirral have staged a walkout over Covid-19 safety concerns, with the waste management company refuting claims that it had failed to take work safety seriously.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has released guidance to local authorities on prioritising waste collection services during the coronavirus outbreak.

The government has announced grant funding of £3.25 million to be made available to food redistribution organisations to ensure surplus food can reach those in need during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The first results from an ADEPT online survey for English local authorities to establish the impact of Covid-19 on waste and recycling services show the majority of services are continuing, but certain services such as garden and bulky waste collections have been hard hit.

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

With waste workers deemed ‘key workers’ and essential to keeping public services running, leading industry associations have raised concerns over how to keep waste operatives safe during the coronavirus outbreak.

The Recycling Association has asked Defra to ensure that household recycling collections are maintained to maintain sufficient availability of material for food and medical supply packaging.

The UK waste sector has issued a joint statement to the public urging residents to follow government advice on managing their household rubbish to minimise the spread of coronavirus to waste workers and warning of emergency service changes.

UK waste management companies are working up contingency plans to ensure that they are able to continue to provide waste services and keep their operatives safe during the coronavirus outbreak.

Veolia and the trade union Unite have reached a settlement over unpaid holiday pay to refuse workers in Tower Hamlets to ensure streets are clean during the coronavirus crisis.