Keeping collectors healthy: request for residents from waste crews

Waterloo Region – Across Waterloo Region and Ontario, waste collection crews are still out on the streets, picking up green bins, blue boxes and garbage. Their efforts on behalf of our community are appreciated more than ever during this time, and we all want to keep them healthy while working. While crews have their own health and safety procedures in place, they have asked that we please take these extra steps to help protect them on the job. 

• Please place used tissues and napkins in the garbage, rather than the green bin.
• Please use liner bags (either paper or certified compostable plastic) in the green bin.
• Put all garbage in garbage bags, not loose in garbage cans.
• If you are sick, please place any item that has come into contact with your mouth, nose or eyes into the garbage. This includes items you would normally put in the blue box, such as water bottles, pop cans, milk/juice cartons, etc. 

These steps will help protect the health of crews who handle thousands of bins, bags and boxes each week. We all have a role to play and by working together, we can make a difference. 

Reporting of curbside waste collection issues is best done through the Region’s online complaint form (visit www.regionofwaterloo.ca/waste and click on Report a Collection Issue). 

Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19 ontario.ca/coronavirus  

For local information visit regionfofwaterloo.ca/COVID19 

Media contact:

Cari Rastas Howard, Supervisor, Communications & Programs,
Region of Waterloo Waste Management choward@regionofwaterloo.ca 

General inquiries:

519-575-4400