Local people are being encouraged to do their bit to minimise household waste during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Rubbish and recycling collections are continuing as normal at present to help stop the spread of COVID-19. The borough’s reuse and recycling centres in Greenford and Acton have been closed during the lockdown, because trips to the recycling centres were not considered as being ‘essential travel’. However, the council will be reopening the Greenford reuse and recycling centre on 18 May – and further details on how the site will be operating to maintain social distancing will be confirmed in the meantime.

The council is working hard to continue to keep the streets clean, collect rubbish and make sure recycling bins are emptied as often as possible, while protecting the health of its workers and residents.

With many people staying at home at the moment there is more pressure on the recycling and waste services, everything we can do to try to minimise the amount of rubbish, recycling and food waste produced can make a real difference. 

Here are some simple tips to help you play your part while keeping yourself and others safe:

• If you are self-isolating and feeling ill, put any potentially infected items like used tissues or cleaning cloths into separate plastic bags and double bag them. These should then be put aside for at least 3 days before being put in your external bin
  
• Avoid doing big clear-outs while at home. This will create more rubbish and recycling for council crews to collect. Do not dispose of waste on a bonfire
  
• Continue to wash your hands regularly, and maintain good hygiene when handling your rubbish and recycling and keep your distance when workers are carrying out collections
  
• Safely store garden waste and DIY waste at your property while restrictions on non-essential travel remain and the borough’s reuse and recycle centres remain  closed
  
• Do not dump your rubbish and household waste items under any circumstances – there is never any excuse to fly-tip. The  council’s bulky waste collection service is still operating
  
• Try home composting to dispose of your green waste while the reuse and recycling centres remain closed. The council offers subsidised home compost bins which could help.

Councillor Mik Sabiers, the council’s cabinet member for environment, said: “We have front-line staff working incredibly hard to ensure waste is collected and streets are kept clean during these really tough times. We are urging residents to work with us – minimise waste where possible and store waste that cannot be collected or disposed of right now.

“Fly-tipping is so irresponsible, even more so at a time like this when our staff are outside working and putting themselves at greater risk in order to fulfil an important job that benefits the community.

“Dumping waste is a serious criminal offence, it carries a maximum penalty of an unlimited fine or up to five years imprisonment.”

• Find out about recycling services in the borough.
• Report a fly-tipper to the council.