News Waste services running normally
Maidstone Borough Council waste services are currently running normally and every effort is being made to maintain this and keep the refuse collectors safe.
In order to maintain a safe environment for the refuse collectors, crews are doing everything they can to keep clean. They are using hand-cleaning solutions, wearing gloves, keeping their social distance and have reduced the amount of time they spend inside the truck. The trucks are being cleaned regularly and staff have been working in the same teams to reduce the risk of cross infection.
Residents are being asked to make sure bins are left out by 7am on the collection day and to put all black bin waste into refuse sacks before putting it into their bin.
If you have symptoms or are self-isolating, any contaminated materials, such as tissues, cleansing wipes need to be double bagged and stored securely for a period of 72 hours, before being disposed of in the black bin. Tissues are not recyclable and must never be placed into the recycling bin.
Recycling waste should be kept clean and loose as usual, inside the green recycling wheelie bin.
Residents are also being asked to park responsibly in order that refuse collection lorries can get through.
Graham Gosden, Waste Manager at Maidstone Borough Council said:
“We are doing all we can to keep this vital service running at this difficult time. The safety of our staff is our top priority so we have introduced measures to keep them safe. We are asking residents to maintain social distancing around our staff and please wash their hands before and after touching their bins.“One of the biggest issues we have is with people parking irresponsibly and not allowing enough room for our refuse lorries to get through. I do understand that many of us are working from home and more cars than normal will be parked, however please make sure emergency vehicles and our refuse vehicles can still get access to your street”
“Please remember to leave your bins out by 7am on your collection days as usual and please bear with us at this difficult time.”
For more information on waste services during the Coronavirus Pandemic, please see Maidstone.gov.uk/ Covid19/ Impact on our services.
If you do have a missed collection, please report this via our website: maidstone.gov.uk/reportit.
Sign up for waste services text message alerts here:
https://self.maidstone.gov.uk/service/sign-up-for-bin-collection-alerts-process