How to dispose of COVID-19 related waste

ODS are following advice and guidance provided by DEFRA and the Government.

Guidance for businesses and other establishments

If you have an individual in your establishment with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, all waste from this individual will need to be disposed of following the procedure detailed below.

1. All waste needs to be kept separated from other waste
2. This waste needs to be bagged twice and securely tied and sealed
3. This waste must then be stored for at least 72 hours
4. After 72 hours, waste can be disposed of via your General Waste (green container) collections with the lid closed.

If you need a collection before the 72 hours elapse please contact our team to discuss how we can assist you.

To dispose of any face coverings or PPE used by people who have come into contact with an infected individual, please:

• double bag these items
• store for 72 hours before putting them in a ‘black bag’ waste bin.

Do not put them in a recycling bin.

Remove PPE carefully, and avoid touching the inside of your face covering.

After you remove your PPE or face covering, wash your hands or use hand sanitiser.

You might also consider:

• providing extra bins for your staff and customers to throw away their waste, face coverings, PPE used and any other additional waste, such as takeaway packaging and disposable tableware
• make sure staff and customers do not put face coverings and PPE in a recycling bin as they cannot be recycled through conventional recycling facilities
• make sure bins are emptied often so they do not overflow and create litter.

We do not need to collect PPE separately.

Guidance for residents

If there is an individual in your household with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 and in self-isolation, all waste will need to be disposed of following the procedure detailed below.

1. All COVID-19 related waste needs to be kept separated
2. This waste needs to be bagged twice and securely tied and sealed
3. This waste must then be stored for at least 72 hours
4. After 72 hours, COVID-19 related waste can be disposed of via your Refuse collections (green bin) with the lid closed.

The principle behind this is that after 72 hours outside the body the virus is no longer viable.

Please ensure you are following Government guidance and that the lids of all waste containers are closed prior to your collection.