Waste collection during the pandemic - important tips for residents

Does waste segregation apply during the pandemic? How does one safely dispose of a used mark or gloves? Can one leave the house to throw out the trash when quarantined? A coalition of 5 fractions answers all of these questions.

• The obligation to cover our mouths and noses not only changed our daily habits, but caused a lot more waste to be produced: surgical masks, dust masks, cloth masks.
• According to guidelines of the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate and the Ministry of Health, these are considered municipal waste and should be placed in the black bins.
• Remember that the dangerous virus may still be present on the mask. Similarly to other waste.

All personnel participating in waste collection and sorting of waste (garbage truck operators, personnel working in sorting facilities) must not contact any materials where the virus may potentially be present. That is why waste, including used masks, should be placed in a plastic bag and sealed before it is thrown away.

In the office and in other places, the spots where such waste is discarded should be clearly marked. This can be a separate box in the bathroom or the locker room. This way, the people who drive out to keep our streets and homes clean are adequately protected.

Can one not segregate their waste?

The pandemic does not release one from the obligation to segregate their waste. We should still be sorting our trash into 5 fractions: paper (blue bin), plastics and metals (yellow bin), glass (green bin), bio (brown bin) and mixed waste (black bin).

The spring wave of the pandemic has shown that many people used this time to conduct home renovations, construction works or to change their furniture. Buying new equipment, we get rid of the old one.

- Remember that electric and electronic waste must be taken to dedicated points, e.g. stores selling household appliances/RTV or Selective waste management points (PSZOK) operating in every municipality. Under no circumstances should they be left in waste bin shelters - stresses Magdalena Sułek-Domańska from ENERIS, a municipal waste collection company, a representative of the Coalition for 5 fractions.

- The current rules for oversize and renovation waste should be also observed. Depending on the municipality, PSZOK, mobile points or waste bin areas should be used for their collection. It is extremely important to remember that old furniture, carpets or used tires should not be disposed of on waste bin spots within housing estates or at entrances to waste bin shelters. In such cases, the remaining waste will not be collected by the municipal services through lack of access - let us not make their work any more difficult - she appeals.

What to do with one’s waste when quarantined?

First of all, one should remember that all those who are quarantined by the Sanitary Services must not leave their house under any conditions, even to take out their trash. Government guidelines for people in isolation (either carrying or suspected to be carrying a contagious disease):

• wait for 72 hours before handing over a trash bag for collection,
• place your refuse in a bag and, if possible, spray the bag with a microbicidal preparation,
• fill the bag with refuse up to 3/4 of its capacity and do not squash the contents,
• after filling the bag, tie it and, after arranging with the person carrying the waste from the isolation site, put the bag outside the isolation room,
• the person picking the bag from the isolation room (wearing gloves) places the bag inside a second bag, ties/closes it to prevent it from accidental opening (they can additionally use adhesive tape or a string), labels the date and hour of closing the bag;
• the bag should be carried in gloves to the waste collection point and placed in the bin for mixed waste (black).

Before and after every activity connected with packing/moving waste, use protective gloves and wash and/or disinfect your hands. Any waste that cannot be mixed with other waste (i.e. used electric and electronic equipment, used batteries, used fluorescent tubes) should be left at home during isolation and handed over to the municipal system when one is cleared to leave the house.

Information for residents related to the epidemiological situation and waste collections in the Municipality
 

The City Waste Management Facility in Dąbrowa Górnicza hereby advises that the Municipal Hazardous Waste Collection Point (GPZON) located in 144 B Główna Street will resume all services provided to the residents of Dąbrowa Górnicza as of 04.05.2020, including the collection of waste fractions specified in the regulations.

The types of waste collected by GPZON are stated in the Regulations which is available at www.mzgodg.pl in the hazardous waste collection tab.

Due to the enforcement of an epidemiological state and the need to pass through the Lipówka II Municipal Waste Processing Facility, a higher sanitary safety discipline has been implemented in the Lipówka II GPZON and ZPOK facilities:

1. All recommendations related to the Covid-19 pandemic must be strictly observed across the country.
2. A distance of min 2 meters must be observed among individuals.
3. A hand disinfection station will be provided to GPZON clients. Other personal safety measures, e.g. gloves, safety masks must be provided by the clients themselves.
4. The number of client who can stay on site is limited, i.e. only 2 vehicles will be let in at the same time (driver + maximum 1 passenger).
5. Waste must be sorted into fractions, it will not be possible to sort waste on site due to maximum reduction of duration of each visit and elimination of queues of clients waiting to enter the facility.
6. Access to GPZON will be possible only via the road leading through ZPOK Lipówka II. Passage will be provided according to a specified employee and client traffic procedure.
7. Before entering the ZPOK Lipówka II and GPZON facilities, all clients must undergo mandatory touchless temperature measurement. If the client exhibits elevated temperature, i.e. above 37.6 or refuses to undergo temperature measurement, they will not be let into the facility or allowed to leave their waste at GPZON.
8. Clients arriving at GPZON are obligated to observe the mandatory regulations and instructions from on-site personnel.

NOTE!
To ensure general safety at GPZON, only clients wearing a mask covering their mouth and nose and wearing adequate gloves will be allowed to enter the facility.

At the same time, we appeal to all prospective clients to consider whether they actually need to visit GPZON during the epidemic, and we encourage all our clients to postpone their waste deliveries. Please refrain from generating waste the collection of which is not a priority during a pandemic. We’d like to remind you that disposing of waste which is not collected by the waste collection contractor from waste bin shelters is prohibited. Locations and contact details of Eco Points:

• GCZO in Al. J. Piłsudskiego 28 A, tel. 728-320-773 open: Mo. - Fri. 6:00 - 22:00,
• GCZO in ul. Szłasowizna 7, tel. 728-320-775 open: Mo. - Fri. 10:00 - 18:00,
• GCZO in Al. Zwycięstwa 27 B, tel. 728-320-774 open: Mo. - Fri. 10:00 - 18:00,
• GPZON in ul. Główna 144 B, tel. 728-320-772 open: Mo. - Fri. 6:00 - 22:00,

The City Waste Management Facility in Dąbrowa Górnicza hereby advises that the Municipal Waste Collection Centers (GCZO) in Al. J. Piłsudskiego 28 A, Al. Zwycięstwa 27 B and ul. Szałasowizna 7 will resume all services provided to the residents of Dąbrowa Górnicza as of 27.04.2020, including the collection of waste fractions specified in the regulations.

The types of waste collected by GCZO are stated in the Regulations which is available at www.mzgodg.pl in the hazardous waste collection tab.

The City Hazardous Waste Collection Point (GPZON) located in ul. Główna 144 B will remain closed until officially opened.

Due to the enforcement of an epidemiological state, a higher sanitary safety discipline has been implemented in the GCZO facility:

1. All recommendations related to the Covid-19 pandemic must be strictly observed across the country
2. A distance of min 2 meters must be observed among individuals
3. A hand disinfection station will be provided to GCZO clients. Other personal safety measures, e.g. gloves, safety masks must be provided by the clients themselves
4. The number of client who can stay on site is limited, i.e. only 1 vehicle will be let in at the same time (driver + maximum 1 passenger)
5. Waste must be sorted into fractions, it will not be possible to sort waste on site due to maximum reduction of duration of each visit and elimination of queues of clients waiting to enter the facility
6. Clients arriving at GCZO are obligated to observe the mandatory regulations and instructions from on-site personnel

NOTE!To ensure general safety at GCZO, only clients wearing a mask covering their mouth and nose and wearing adequate gloves will be allowed to enter the facility.

At the same time, we appeal to all prospective clients to consider whether they actually need to visit GCZO during the epidemic, and we encourage all our clients to postpone their waste deliveries. Please refrain from generating waste the collection of which is not a priority during a pandemic. We’d like to remind you that disposing of waste which is not collected by the waste collection contractor from waste bin shelters is prohibited.

• GCZO in Al. J. Piłsudskiego 28 A, tel. 728-320-773 open: Mo. - Fri. 6:00 - 22:00,
• GCZO in ul. Szłasowizna 7, tel. 728-320-775 open: Mo. - Fri. 10:00 - 18:00,
• GCZO in Al. Zwycięstwa 27 B, tel. 728-320-774 open: Mo. - Fri. 10:00 - 18:00,

Dear Residents! As of 22.04.2020, you will be able to handle all urgent issues connected to waste management following prior telephone booking at the MZGO office in Al. Piłsudskiego 34c

In order to facilitate waste collections and management, all residents are encouraged to familiarize and apply practices which can be safely implemented in every household.

Below, you’ll find the most important rules which can be applied during the epidemic, when waste collections are difficult:

Limit your purchases to essential items

Stores are and will remain open, and a part of your excess purchases will end up in the bin. In the upcoming weeks, pay attention to your purchasing decisions. Do not throw away food

Use the bin to its full capacity, reduce your waste volume

You are in charge of keeping the waste pickup sites clean and orderly. Pressing bottles and other plastic packaging, folding or dividing paper and cardboard waste into smaller parts will contribute to better use of the bins. The less air garbage trucks carry the more waste their will fit in

Refrain from non-urgent renovations, furniture change, spring cleaning, etc

Remember that Eco Points are closed indefinitely. Limit your visits to the building depot and furniture stores, refrain from works generating oversize waste. This is not the time for spring cleaning

Manage your own green and BIO waste - composting

The owners of single-family houses should considering handling their own green waste, e.g. by creating their own composters

Wet wipes, disposable gloves and mask

Do not dispose of wet wipes, disposable gloves and masks into the toilet. This waste should be placed in a bag (preferably sealed). Do not throw them loose into bins for mixed waste

Handling all waste management affairs:

All affairs related to waste pickups are handled remotely. Call, write an e-mail, go to ePUAP, online declaration or do it by post.

Important MZGO telephone numbers:

• (32) 264-46-23 internal. 16,18,19 - fees and charges
• (32) 264-46-23 internal. 22,23,24 - declarations
• (32) 264-46-23 internal. 42 - complaints
• Email: sekretariat@mzgodg.pl

Remember to observe hygiene rules when disposing of any waste. Wash your hands often!