Our safety precautions

Our drivers are following the strict guidelines of level three.

This means they are always at least two meters away from any customer and team member at all times to prevent any spread of germs. After each job the driver will wash their hands or sanitize to destroy any germs. On top of this all our staff have all been provided sanitary safety gear such as, anti-bacterial wipes, sanitizer and hand soap to use before, during and after jobs. Drivers will wear gloves, masks and are provided other appropriate safety gear such as glasses, safety boots, disposable overalls so they can remove any rubbish without being at risk or putting anyone else at risk.

We encourage customers to leave their rubbish outside to be collected and to stay inside when our drivers come to collect their rubbish. If the job needs to be re-quoted onsite, our driver will call the client when they are onsite and have seen the rubbish so there isn’t any contact between the client and our driver. If the rubbish is inside and the rubbish can\’t be placed outside, our team will come in and safely remove the rubbish while taking safety precautions and keeping their distance from customers.

Also, we process payment over the phone so no physical contact is needed.

Our staff also inquire whether anyone in the household has been sick recently, or feeling sick or if anyone has been overseas and is currently in quarantine, while booking the job. If this is the case, our staff will not be able to go to that job.

If you would like us to remove your rubbish contact us on 0800 Dump Me. To protect yourself and our team members please follow the level three guidelines and keep your distance from our staff.

Hong Kong was the first to see the impact as used masks were found littering their beaches. While in Louisiana and other US states, gloves and wipes littered the streets and it has gotten so bad that people are posting photos on social media of the used sanitary products scattered on the street. People are growing increasingly concerned about the littering of the protective gear as it is a safety hazard and increasing the environmental problem, as all the protective gear is made of plastic and the litter will go down drains and end up in the ocean and be eaten by wild life causing them to choke and die.

USA and Hong Kong are not the only places that have been affected due to Covid-19. Rubbish collection drop off sites in Waterloo and Cambridge in Canada have been shut down and will finally be reopening on May 4^th. Whereas Bangkok has seen a 15% rise in plastic waste due to people spending more time at home and buying delivery services with plastic packaged fast-food due to Covid-19. Also rubbish collection services in Brussels, Belgium has been disrupted due to storage of staff because of the outbreak resulting in some waste not being collected.

So how did Covid-19 affect New Zealand’s waste? As kiwis, we were lucky that our rubbish, recycling and scrap bin collections were considered essential, so we haven’t had any problems with disposing of our usual household rubbish. However, Auckland Council announced on the 1^st of April that covid-19 had affected the process of disposing of paper and cardboard waste produced and disposed of by households. Auckland’s paper and cardboard waste will be dumped into landfills until further notice rather than being recycled. This is due to changes in the international trade and buying of processing paper recyclables. (Source)

As well as paper and cardboard being placed in landfill, the Auckland council inorganic collections are being postponed from the 26^th of March, and no bin removals, exchanges or minor repairs will be done until further notice.

Also, the Waitakere Refuse and Recycling Centre has decreased its hours to the public and is only accepting refuse and green waste.

Here’s where we can help! Our team can come pick up and clear any rubbish and garden waste that you have accumulated over the level 4 period. Whether it’s the inorganic collection, a single item, green waste or hazardous waste, we can dispose of it for you. Just send us an email or call us on 0800 386 763 for an estimated quote.

Sanitize Surfaces

One of the most important steps to decreasing the spread of germs is to sanitize items that are used often by multiple people. These items can include door handles, computer keyboards and mouse, shopping carts, light switches and tape handles. Many of these items go months without getting cleaned and the germs build up over time and spread from surface to surface by each person that touches them.

To kill 99% of germs, make sure you use anti-bacterial wipes or spray to clean surfaces. Do this at least once a week or whenever the surface is dirty.

Wash Your Hands

Each person must take individual responsibility by washing their hands, so that germs don’t spread and other people don’t get sick. Each person should wash their hands or sanitize their hands after touching public surfaces, using the bathroom or when you touch your face and blow your nose.  If you feel like your hands are dirty, take time out of your busy schedule to wash your hands for 20 seconds at the least!

Do a Declutter

Most people don’t think about this step, as they may not realize that having a lot of stuff around the house is a problem. However, the more objects you have piling up, the more dust and dirt sits around the house and on the objects.

On top of this, you are more prone to wipe down surfaces and vacuum rooms if there aren’t many items to move out the way. Also, the fewer items you have in your house the easier it is to see when the place gets dusty and dirty.

To solve this problem, declutter your home by donating items that you don’t want anymore, that are in good condition to the Salvation Army, Red cross or SPCA charity second hand store. Before you donate items, wipe them down with an antibacterial wipe so you don’t spread germs and wash clothes before donating them.

To prevent dust living on items around the house and getting you sick, wipe down surfaces with a damp microfiber cloth or disinfectant wipes. Also, vacuum at least once a week to collect any dirt that was tracked inside by your shoes and to get pet fur off the carpet.

Remove Old Waste and Junk

Got old rubbish, junk and broken items sitting around the house or outside? Old microwaves, fridge and broken dishwashers? Removing these items are essential to keeping your environment clean and germ free. Leaving rubbish piled up for a long time attracts rats, ants and cockroaches, especially if its old food waste. As a result, these pets will spread diseases. The best thing to do to prevent pests is to get your rubbish, junk and broken items removed.

That’s where we come in and help! If you have any rubbish you need removed or old broken junk, call us now or fill in our quote me page! We can come and lift and remove all your junk, rubbish and hazardous waste from your house or business, resulting in a safer, cleaner environment for your family and staff members.

Don’t let germs scare you! Just take the necessary steps to prevent the spread of germs. Wipe surface, declutter, remove rubbish, clean once a week, and stay at home if you are sick.

If you want to know more about the coronavirus and how to stay safe during this time, go to health.govt.nz for all the information and updates.

Waste quadrupled in the city of Wuhan in China, according to South China Morning Post. Over 200 tonnes of waste a day was recorded, as the masks and other sanitary products are being thrown away at an alarmingly high rate as the items are only single use items.

On top of this, items used by medical staff and people that already have the virus, such as masks and other protective gear are considered chemical waste when discarded. Which means the waste has to go to special facility that deals with medical and chemical waste correctly. However, this facility can only handle 50 tonnes a day of medical waste and cannot handle the 200 tonnes that is being produced. As a result, waste is piling up in some areas.

Some people living in the Wuhan are aware of this problem and say that they are keeping the mask waste down, as they use their masks as long as possible before disposing of them.

However, Wuhan is not the only region in China that is having an overload of face masks being used. Hong Kong has a massive amount of face masks littering the beaches, streets and hiking paths. Also, as the masks can’t be recycled because of hygienic reasons, the masks go straight to landfill and take years to break down.

Reference:  South China Morning Post