How To Dispose Of Garbage During COVID-19 Outbreak

As local authorities ramp up their coronavirus preparations, the Regional Governor of Attica, in collaboration with the Crisis Management Team and members of EDSNA, has issued a set of guidelines for the proper disposal of waste during the COVID-19 outbreak for the protection of citizens and workers in the waste management sector.

During this challenging time, Greece's first responders, police officers, doctors, nurses, and more are all to be commended. In this list, we should also remember garbage collectors and other sanitation workers who, despite the dangers imposed by the novel coronavirus, continue to provide their service. We should also take into account that due to the closure of schools and the introduction of "special-purpose leaves" for working parents, the sector has seen the number of employees decrease, experiencing additional pressure.

Citizens are expected to comply with the following rules:

• Put all used personal protective equipment, such as gloves, antibacterial wipes, and face masks in non-recyclable bags.
• Each bag must be hand-tied by gathering and twisting the neck of the bag and using a tie or hand knot to seal the bag properly.
• Make sure that the dustbin lid closes properly and don't place excess bags on top of the garbage bin.
• Avoid putting out large and bulky items.
• Municipalities are required to disinfect garbage bins, and citizens are advised to open the garbage bins by the step-on mechanism or using gloves.