The comments were made to support a survey by Defra – the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs – to help it “maintain a good understanding” of how the COVID-19 outbreak is impacting on the waste and recycling industry.
Defra says the survey, which closes at 23:59 tomorrow (April 29) “will inform our policy decisions; aid our contingency planning across Defra and wider government; and help us to support the sector at large”.
PPE and staff numbers
The questionnaire, which can be found here, takes around 30 minutes to complete and includes questions on staff numbers; absence rates; supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE); volumes of material being processed; and any changes to capacity being experienced.
“The questionnaire includes a specific section entitled Finance. We are keen to understand any financial pressures on your business as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, whether you have made use of existing government support schemes, and to explore the potential for further support,” Defra noted.
A further update on this information is scheduled next month, where another survey might be launched.
Testing
The survey comes as Defra has also updated it guidance to reflect how key workers across the UK can be tested.
Essential workers including those in the waste sector can now, either through an employee or self referral, be tested at regional sites, at home, at mobile unites or NHS facilities.
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