Opinion

from Solid Waste & Recycling Spring 2020

Fleet Management

Collecting ourselves

Today is Monday, March 23, 2020. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has just finished announcing the closure of all non-essential businesses as of tomorrow. Hamilton, Ontario’s unionized waste collection workers walked off the job this morning, refusing to work until better safety measures are taken to protect them. There will no doubt be more announcements and actions of the same kind in the coming weeks as the country tries to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) is telling its members to prepare their staff with letters to carry that say they are essential workers so they will be able to pass law enforcement roadblocks. But if waste workers do not feel that they are being given proper safety gear, those letters may be moot.

So many people are being asked to step up to the front lines in this fight against the coronavirus attack. Every one

of them deserves the respect, admiration and support of those of us who have the luxury of working from home.

Waste collectors have a scary enough time anyway, with the constant threat of dangerous or contaminated items in the trash, not to mention the risk of on-the-job injuries or death (see our safety report on page 15 for a glimpse at the risks). If they are going to be out on the road collecting waste during a pandemic, then they should have access to the proper personal protective gear, just as everyone in a public-facing role should at the moment. I hope that they will receive the protection they need as soon as possible.

For as long as this pandemic crisis lasts, I wish you all well. Please stay safe, do the right thing, wash your hands and stay at home. See you on the other side.

Emily Atkins416-614-5801 | emily@newcom.ca