THUNDER BAY – The city's infrastructure and operations department is appealing to Thunder Bay residents to “protect your collector” and not place loose items – especially used personal protective equipment (PPE) such as disposable masks and gloves – in trash cans.
“Our waste collection crews have encountered loose PPE items in garbage cans,” said Jason Sherband, the City’s Manager of Solid Waste and Recycling Services. “Although it is tempting to toss items straight into the can, this poses a significant health and safety risk for waste collection staff.”
He's asking residents to bag and seal all garbage that is put out for collection, for the safety of everyone in the community.
Sherband said sanitation crews lately are noticing more loose PPE in the trash, and this is a worry.
"At the start of the pandemic we noticed it, so we pushed the messaging, and it got a little bit better. As the numbers start rising, maybe people are doing more to protect themselves. This is just a friendly reminder again to please bag your PPE before putting it in the garbage can."
