Residents have reportedly leaving out drawings, home made thank-you cards and even small gifts outside for their bin collectors while on duty.
Waste management giants such as Veolia, Biffa, Suez, Viridor and FCC have thanked the public and urged them to continue showing gratitude to refuse workers working on the frontlines while respecting social-distancing regulations.
In New Malden, south west London, some residents have been leaving gifts such as chocolates for their refuse workers, while many other residents from across the country have been showing their thanks in other ways.
As part of Veolia’ #streetsmiles campaign to encourage residents to support waste collection teams, residents across the country left out notes to thank waste collection teams for continuing during lockdown.
Looking for an activity to do at home this weekend?
Bring the sunshine indoors!Create a smiling sun picture in support of the recycling and waste workers who are keeping communities clean during #COVID19. Put it in your window for them to see and Tweet us using #StreetSmiles pic.twitter.com/ZyTgtOJ2ra
— Veolia UK (@VeoliaUK) April 11, 2020
Meanwhile, FCC have reported that residents and children across South Ribble have been surprising their bin collectors with heartfelt messages of praise, good wishes and colourful drawings to thank them for being “true heroes” for the community in the face of COVID-19.
On Easter weekend in Maldon,Essex, Suez UK waste collections crews were thanked with a collection of Easter eggs left on top of black bins.
Suez UK have said that the “thank yous keep us going” and “we are grateful for every kind gesture.”
Thank you to the egg-ceptional resident in #Maldon who showed their support to our crews with some lovely sweet treats #KindnessMatters https://t.co/arMrNkiyoL
— SUEZ UK (@suezUK) April 8, 2020
Biffa waste workers were thanked in West Sussex by pupils at the Angmering School who wrote messages to all key workers working on the frontlines.
One year eight pupil wrote: “Thank you to Biffa for keeping our bins empty and our streets cleaned. We appreciate you!
On twitter, Biffa said: “To all our frontline staff, we salute you. Thank you for your amazing efforts at this challenging time, keeping the UK’s streets clean and our bins emptied.”
To all our front line staff, we salute you. Thank you for your amazing efforts at this challenging time, keeping the UK's streets clean and our bins emptied.#keyworkers#thankyou#goingaboveandbeyond pic.twitter.com/E4i02EjaHk
— Biffa (@Biffa) March 27, 2020
Simple Gestures
Secretary at the National Association of Waste Disposal Officers, Jarno Stet told letsrecycle.com: “Simple gestures of gratitude towards those working, are really the best. They are warmly received by the collection and street cleansing crews. Even a nod, smile or wave from a window are greatly appreciated by those working on the front line of the nations national waste management sector.”
“As we battle the coronavirus, the dedication of those on the front line of the waste sector provides confidence to those at home that their waste will be taken away and gives reassurance to those still going to work that our streets will be clean.”
Many local councils have faced a staffing crisis due to workers going into self-isolation, meaning that services are overstretched, however authorities are working to prioritise recycling collections.
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